Japan Veterinary Medical Association

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One Health

JVMA values the notion of “One Health” and adopted “Animal health and people’s health become one. That is a wish of the Earth” as our guidelines to carry out activities related to the promotion of “One Health”.

JVMA signed an agreement of collaboration with the Japan Medical Association (JMA) to further promote “One Health” in the nation. Our efforts include collaboratively holding international conferences.

Efforts of WVA, WMA, JVMA, and JMA

In 2012, the World Veterinary Association (WVA) and the World Medical Association (WMA) concluded a memorandum to improve “Global Health” based on the idea of “One Health” that promotes cooperation between physicians and veterinarians.

Based on the memorandum, JVMA came to an understanding that “it is essential to build a collaborative relationship among physicians and veterinarians to promote “One Health” in Japan.” Then, in November 2013, JVMA concluded an agreement with JMA to promote academic collaboration.

Signing ceremony of academic exchange agreement between JMA and JVMA

Subsequently, various efforts were taken to reinforce collaboration between local physicians and veterinarians. By November 8, 2016 before the conference began, partnership between physicians and veterinarians came into effect as cooperative agreements were reached in all 55 regions nationwide.

As a result of the cooperation, JVMA and JMA as well as local medical associations and veterinary associations all together actively take various efforts including cosponsoring a symposium on zoonotic infection.

The 1st JMA-JVMA joint symposium on One Health
1st symposium Oct. 28, 2014 Current Status and Measures of Rabies Control Tokyo Metropolitan Hibiya Public Hall
2nd symposium Feb. 15, 2015 Impact of Tickborne Diseases on Human Health Okayama Convention Center
3rd symposium Nov. 6, 2015 Current Status and Issues of Transboundary Infectious Diseases JVMA Auditorium
4th symposium Feb. 27, 2016 Think of “One Health”
Akita Castle Hotel
5th symposium Feb. 25, 2017 Think of “Influenza”
Ishikawa Ongakudo
6th symposium Nov. 27, 2017 Measures of Antimicrobial Resistance Control JMA Auditorium
7th symposium Feb. 11, 2018 Beppu International Convention Center
8th symposium Nov. 16, 2018 One Health at home - Current Status and Issues of Antimicrobial Resistance in human and animal- JMA Auditorium
9th symposium Feb. 9, 2019 Current Status and Measures of Zoonoses Control Shin Yokohama Prince Hotel

International conference on “One Health”

In May 2015, WVA and WMA held the 1st WVA-WMA Global Conference on One Health (GCOH) at A.M.A Parque Empresarial Cristalia in Madrid, Spain to facilitate cooperation and share information among relevant people who work for the improvement of human and animal health as well as conservation of the environment.

The theme of the conference was “Strengthening collaboration between Physicians and Veterinarians”. JVMA together with JMA collaboratively took part in the 1st GCOH. Yoshitake Yokokura, JMA Chairperson, and Isao Kurauchi, JVMA Chairperson, gave a presentation on “Managing Natural Disaster – Preparation and Roles of Physicians and Veterinarians” to talk about JMA and JVMA efforts in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Oral presentation by Dr. Kurauchi in The 2nd WVA-WMA Global Conference on One Health

To further promote “One Health”, WVA and WMA requested JMA and JVMA to hold the 2nd WVA-WMA Global Conference on One Health (2nd GCOH) in Japan. As an example of successful collaboration, both JMA and JVMA agreed to host the 2nd GCOH in order to “contribute to the global promotion of ‘One Health’ that calls for a close collaborative relationship between physicians and veterinarians to improve both people and animal health and to preserve the environment.”

The 2nd GCOH was held from November 10 to 11, 2016 at Rihga Royal Hotel Kokura in Kita Kyushu. 639 physicians, veterinarians, and other medical practitioners from 31 countries attended the event. Imperial Prince and Princess Akishino-no-miya were in attendance at the opening ceremony. Dr. Johnson Chiang, the next WVA Chairperson, Dr. Xavier Deau, the former WMA Chairperson, Yoshitake Yokokura, JMA Chairperson, and Isao Kurauchi, JVMA Chairperson among many others also attended the event. Koichi Tanaka, a winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, delivered the keynote speech on “The future of analytical instruments to prevent infections”. As a result of the 2nd GCOH, “Fukuoka Memorandum” was adopted, which holds up the following 4 pillars.

(From left) Dr. Isao Kurauchi, President of JVMA, Dr. Johnson Chiang, President-elect of WVA, Dr. Xavier Deau, Immediate-Past President of WMA, Dr. Yoshitake Yokokura, President of JMA
(* The positions shown here are at the time of November, 2016)
Fukuoka Memorandum
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On January 6, 2018, the 46th Taiwan Veterinary Day Annual Celebration was held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. At the event, “Memorandum on the Promotion of Academic Exchange by JVMA, Korean Veterinary Medical Association, and Chinese Society of Veterinary Science” was signed by the parties, which ensured to accelerate cooperation among 3 East Asian veterinary associations.

Signing ceremony of academic exchange agreement among three associations.
Memorandum of Academic Exchange among three associations
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