Why veterinarians are essential health staff

Kenya Veterinary Association personnel fix the button like device on the cows at Al Leboi village. [Kibata Kihu, Standard]

Today is World Veterinary Day, occurring on the last Saturday of April every year. On this day, veterinarians all over the world go out to provide free services to the community while promoting the greatness of this noble profession.

Veterinary medicine is among the world's oldest professions. If history is anything to go by, the domestication of animals certainly gave rise to this profession as animals needed medical attention. However, veterinary medicine as we know it today has its roots documented in the first veterinary school in Lyon, France, established in 1761. Necessity being the mother of all inventions, the opening of this school aimed to prevent, control, and later eradicate a serious animal disease called Rinderpest - a viral, deadly disease with very high mortality rates. The disease was decimating millions of cattle at the time, necessitating its study, the development of medicines and vaccines, and ultimately its control.