WOAH’s new director sets out vision for animal health
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)’s new director general, Dr Emmanuelle Soubeyran, has set out her ambitions as the body celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Dr Soubeyran brings a wealth of experience to the role, including as chief veterinary officer and deputy director general for food at the French Ministry of Agriculture.
Her first priority is to elevate animal health issues, saying animal health is not just a matter of veterinary concern but is central to global health challenges, against a backdrop of challenges such as foot and mouth disease, African swine fever, high pathogenicity avian influenza and antimicrobial resistance.
Her strategy will focus on developing economic arguments to demonstrate the cost of inaction on animal health issues exceeds the cost of prevention.
Additionally, she will push for more digitalisation in veterinary services, with a focus on electronic certification, to streamline global trade and reduce administrative burdens.
