Vetnews | Januarie 2025 2 « BACK TO CONTENTS I would like to thank Paul Van Der Merwe our past president, the Board of Directors and Fedco for successfully steering SAVA over the past few years. It is an honour and privilege for me to serve as the president of the association. One I don’t take lightly and one I humbly accept. As we usher in the new year I am also filled with hope and excitement and the promise these new beginnings hold! This is not only from a personal perspective but regarding SAVA, as well as our profession. I take the reigns from Paul during a difficult time for SAVA. The challenges we face are likely to impact our activities over the next two years. We will however persevere and navigate through this period. I always say great challenges unleash great opportunities and this period is no different. It’s an opportunity for SAVA to reflect and ensure that SAVA’s operations are sound and offer a firm foundation for the role it plays in the agricultural sector. Over the next six months, the focus will be on the development and implementation of the appropriate governance tools including policies and financial controls. In our reflection we also need to look outwardly, essentially to determine “who we want to be” on a somewhat changed local, continental and global stage. This requires that we collaborate with a renewed mindset to ensure that we attract the appropriate partnerships and collaborations to effectively carry out our mandate. Some of this work has already begun with great benefit for the fraternity. You may remember the Lincoln Institute of Veterinary Business, MentorVet, WSAVA, Royal Canin Merck and UC Davis mental resilience and wellbeing partnership training course which Gert and his team are working hard to ensure becomes a success. On the local front, SAVA is looking to work closely with the Veterinary Para Professional organisations, the Black Veterinary Forum as well as the Southern African Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine. Such collaborations will also enable us to play a bigger role within the continent. HWSETA remains a very important strategic partner, and I hope that over the next few years, we will build on the programmes they fund, for greater impact. I had the privilege to attend the WOAH Continental Conference titled: “Towards a More Resilient Veterinary Workforce for Africa” in Nairobi Kenya from 26 to 28 November 2024. Amongst many interesting discussions held at the conference, there were exciting talks, spearheaded by the WVA on officially launching a Federation of African Veterinary Medical Associations. We eagerly await the formal invitation to join this federation. Another important conversation held at the conference was regarding the formation of a Continental Association for Women Veterinarians. This will be a powerful empowerment platform for women to engage in technical and social issues. There are several regional women’s veterinarian associations with activities ranging from conducting vaccination campaigns and “spayathons” to marketing and selling pet products produced by local women’s groups during such campaigns. I will share in subsequent issues on the developments however an opportunity to join the East African Women Veterinary Association was extended by Dr Marilyn Karani, its Interim Chairperson during the deliberations. During December 2024 representatives from SAVA also had an opportunity to meet with the Minister of Agriculture who so graciously entrusted SAVA with several responsibilities. Enjoy this issue and as we enter into the new year let us resolve to continue to serve with excellence! v Happy New Year! Ziyanda From the President Dear members, Challenges always present opportunities Female Veterinarians and VPP's are invited to join the Eastern Africa Women Veterinary Association (EAWVA) Dr Marilyn Karani Interim Chairperson EAWVA mrm.karani@gmail.com +254 722 283136
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