Opening remarks by SMS Tan for the Singapore Vet Show 2022 on 14 Oct
Oct 14, 2022
A very good morning to all.
I am happy to join you today, at the second edition of the Singapore Vet Show. I would like to extend a warm welcome to our friends from overseas.
The Vet Show has come a long way since its launch in London in 2009. More than a decade on, the Vet Show has evolved into a series of exciting conferences held across Europe, the USA, and now Asia.
It was an honour for Singapore to host the first Asian edition of the Vet Show in 2019. This year, we are glad to be hosting it again, with our first in-person show since the COVID-19 pandemic begun.
Importance of One Health Approach and the Role of Vets in Safeguarding Public Health
The COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted from a zoonotic spillover, has underscored the importance of the One Health approach.
The One Health approach seeks to achieve optimal health outcomes through a collaborative, transdisciplinary framework.
It recognises that human health is closely intertwined with the health of our plants and animals, both domestic and wild, as well as our shared environment.
Singapore actively adopts the One Health approach.
We have forged a tight-knit network comprising multiple government agencies such as the Ministry of Health and the Animal & Veterinary Service which is part of the National Parks Board.
By working closely across the whole of government, this network enables a stronger, multi-sectoral approach to disease detection, prevention, and control.
This is demonstrated by our efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance, in which representatives from the human, animal, and environmental sectors conduct joint biosurveillance, research, standard-setting, and capability development.
We have also involved the wider veterinary industry in our One Health efforts. For example, many vets volunteer for our annual Ops Vax Lyssa exercise to vaccinate dogs at our coastal borders against rabies.
Singapore is honoured to host the upcoming 7th World One Health Congress, from the 7th to the 11th of November this year.
The congress brings together leading experts and professionals from academia, multilateral organisations, national governments and the industry.
In particular, we look forward to hosting Dr Monique Eloit (moh-neek eh-lwa), the Director-General of the World Organisation for Animal Health.
Dr Eloit has over thirty years of experience in the animal health sector, and was previously the Chief Veterinary Officer for France.
In the coming years, we hope to see the One Health approach gain traction across the world.
As we face worrying threats from zoonotic diseases, an integrated approach to public health will be crucial to safeguard public health and lives.
Vets play a crucial role in this effort.
Vets’ Contributions to the Broader Community
Indeed, in Singapore and across the world, vets are at the frontline of the animal and public health sectors, making substantial contributions to the broader community.
First, vets provide quality veterinary care to our pets and community animals, while raising awareness on how we can contribute to improving their welfare.
Since 2020, vets in Singapore have partnered us in developing several important guidelines on the vaccination of pets, the prudent use of antimicrobials, and improving the adoption and rehoming process for dogs.
Many vets have also been proactively engaging pet owners and community animal caregivers on preventive care against infectious animal diseases.
Indeed, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our vet community has worked tirelessly to safeguard the health and welfare of our animals.
We deeply appreciate your commitment, dedication, and service.
Second, vets play a key role in helping to manage the population of community animals in a humane, and science-based manner.
For example, over the last decade our vets have helped to neuter more than 26,000 community cats under our Stray Cat Sterilisation Programme.
Similarly, we have enrolled nearly 3,500 free-roaming dogs in our Trap-Neuter-Rehome/Release-Manage, or TNRM, programme.
These efforts would not have been possible without the support and expertise of the vet community.
Finally, at the global level, vets make significant contributions to science and public health.
Beyond conducting cutting-edge research in fields such as animal biology, wildlife health, and veterinary health products, vets also contribute to biosurveillance efforts and help to control outbreaks of infectious animal diseases.
For instance, when the African horse sickness was identified in our region, our vets leveraged technological solutions to help our overseas counterparts expedite their outbreak response.
In such cases, our timely pre-border biosurveillance efforts help to prevent the spread of animal diseases to Singapore.
Such endeavours benefit the wider community, and we are all better off for it.
As we recognise the contributions of vets, we must not forget that they are supported by a community of passionate and dedicated vet paraprofessionals, such as vet nurses and technicians.
Our vet paraprofessionals play an integral role in the animal health system.
You take on many crucial responsibilities, often behind the scenes, by assisting our vets in providing medical care to animals, performing X-rays, analysing laboratory specimens, and more.
Today, as we launch the Vet Show, we also celebrate Vet Nurse Day.
I would like to thank all our vets and vet paraprofessionals for your hard work and contributions to safeguarding animal and public health.
Raising Professional Standards in the Veterinary Sector
Over the past few years, as more people have discovered the joys of animal companionship, we have seen pet ownership grow in many countries, including Singapore.
As pet ownership increases, vets will be expected to take on greater responsibilities in our national health system.
It is therefore important to see the continued growth and upskilling of our local veterinary industry.
To this end, our Animal & Veterinary Service has been actively engaging the veterinary community to learn about the challenges they face, and understand how we can work together to advance the sector’s professional standards and practices.
During our engagements, many shared that vet paraprofessionals could be better recognised for their contributions.
Many stakeholders also expressed the need to promote and facilitate lifelong learning for the profession.
In addition, we have received suggestions to establish a veterinary professional body, to uphold the sector’s professional standards.
We are carefully studying these ideas, and look forward to sharing more details on our plans, once they are ready.
With the rapid advancement of veterinary science, it is critical that vet professionals keep up with the latest developments, and continue to deepen their knowledge and expertise.
I would like to thank the organisers of this year’s Vet Show, the Singapore Veterinary Association and CloserStill Media, for putting together an extensive line-up of over 40 lectures.
The programme covers the latest advancements in veterinary science, as well as emerging challenges and opportunities in animal care.
In this way, the Vet Show provides a valuable opportunity for the veterinary community to come together and learn from one another.
Conclusion
In closing, I am excited to see how the vet community will apply the insights from this Vet Show to continue advancing public health, animal care, veterinary science, and more.
Once again, we thank you for your significant contributions in these diverse areas.
And, we look forward to deepening our partnership with the Singaporean vet community in the years to come.
With that, I wish you an enjoyable and fruitful Vet Show ahead. Thank you.