Veterinary Public Health
The Pedro N. Acha Award for Excellence in Veterinary Public Health
 |
"I would like to put forth
the notion that the veterinary profession should serve humanity. Those
who are responsible for the professional education in the veterinary
sciences should grasp this idea and begin to guide our training centers
to the three principal services benefiting humankind: agriculture,
biology and public health. I believe that if we were to do any less, we
would fail in our mission…" — Pedro Acha, D.V.M. |
The
health of human beings is tied to the health of animals, both domestic
and wild, in many ways. Certain diseases can be transmitted, directly
or indirectly, from animals to humans. Infections and parasitic
diseases of livestock may kill the animals outright, may necessitate
their destruction or may reduce the survivors' production of meat or
milk, all of which can in turn reduce the food supply available to
humans. Such diseases are also an obstacle to international trade and
may become a serious financial drain on the economy of a community or
country—an impact which may have broad repercussions for health in a
society.
The Pedro N. Acha Award for Excellence in Veterinary
Public Health, created in 1993, is one of the awards presented by the
Pan American Health and Education Foundation through its Awards for
Excellence in Inter-American Public Health Program, a partnership
between PAHEF and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Recognizing
the importance of veterinary public health to the peoples of the
Americas and the economies of the countries, PAHEF established the
Pedro N. Acha Award for Excellence in Veterinary Public Health. This
award recognizes outstanding research based on a thesis written by an
undergraduate student in veterinary public health within the last three
years. It also aims to encourage dedication to the highest standards of
study and professionalism.
A distinguished jury of veterinary
public health professionals reviews nominations and recommends a
research thesis to the board of trustees of PAHEF for final selection.
The
awardee receives a cash prize, certificate of honor, and a paid trip to
Washington, DC, to receive the award at the annual PAHO/PAHEF Awards
for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health Event and is recognized
before the ministers of health of the region at the PAHO Directing
Council Meeting.
