The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) announced today that the American Medical Association (AMA) has adopted a resolution calling for collaboration on a One Health Initiative.
The two national, medical organizations will work collaboratively on areas of mutual medical interest, such as pandemic influenza, bioterrorism risks, and biomedical research.
The AVMA One Health Initiative will take another major step forward at the AVMA Convention in Washington, DC, when the AVMA will announce the members of a One Health Initiative Task Force. The new AVMA One Health Initiative Task Force will be charged with developing strategies to promote collaboration among the various health science associations, colleges, government agencies and industries.
Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said, “This is fantastic news. I am sure I speak for all of CDC in voicing my complete enthusiasm and support for the One Health Initiative. I appreciate the leadership that the AMA and AVMA are providing in creating this powerful network of health protection.”
AVMA President, Roger K. Mahr, DVM, who has championed the One Health Initiative at the AVMA, testified before the AMA in support of their participation in the Initiative.
“The convergence of animal, human, and ecosystem health clearly dictates that the ‘one world, one health, one medicine’ concept must be embraced. Together, we can accomplish more to improve health worldwide than we can alone,” Dr. Mahr testified.
“New infections continue to emerge and with threats of cross-species disease transmission and pandemic in our global health environment, the time has come for the human and veterinary medical professions to work closer together for the greater protection of the public health in the 21st Century,” said AMA Board Member Duane M. Cady, MD.
The AVMA One Health Initiative Task Force will be comprised of twelve thought-leaders representing various health science professions, academia (including two students), government, and industry.
The AVMA and its more than 75,000 member veterinarians are engaged in a wide variety of activities dedicated to advancing the science and art of animal, human and public health.
SOURCE American Veterinary Medical Association