The vision of the FAO Reference Centre for Veterinary Public Health is to play a substantial role now and in the future in the propagation of Veterinary Public Health in all its facets.

The FAO Reference Centre for Veterinary Public Health is in particular dedicated to consumer protection by providing state-of-the-art diagnoses for zoonotic agents along the livestock value chains.

Additionally, it is prepared to contribute considerably to capacity building in laboratory and field through training and professional education.

 

What is Veterinary Public Health (VPH)?

VPH is multidisciplinary and contributes to many areas of public health that are not always related to animals and one definition for VPH is: "The contributions to the physical, mental and social well-being of humans through an understanding and application of veterinary science” [WHO/FAO/OIE definition 1999].

Human health, animal husbandry, animal health as well as animal welfare are closely connected and VPH is a fundamental part of public health whereby human health and well-being are the main objectives. In order to integrate veterinary public health into the goals of public health, it is essential to improve collaboration between human and veterinary medical science, environmental science and other related fields - in accordance with ‘One Health’ principles.