Dr Paul Cadogan, Contributor

In recent years, there have been positive signs of increasing interaction between veterinarians in the Caribbean region. This is important in this period of global threats from emerging or re-emerging diseases such as bird flu, mad cow disease, West Nile viral encephalitis, foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever and tuberculosis, to name a few.

In late 2006, a simulation exercise of a bird flu outbreak was held in Jamaica, attended by veterinarians from around the region. This was the first time some of them had been exposed to such an activity and all benefited from the experience.

In November 2007, the fourth Pan-Commonwealth Veterinary Conference took place in Barbados. It was a tremendous success, attended by delegates from over 50 Commonwealth countries.

Distance learning workshop

In December 2007, a delegation from Trinidad and Tobago, led by the director of the UWI School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM), Professor Abiodun Adesiyun, visited Jamaica as guests of the Jamaica Veterinary Medical Association (JMVA). They toured veterinary facilities, met with regulatory officials and the Veterinary Board and addressed a general meeting of the JVMA. The SVM is making its diagnostic and consultative services available to the region.

In February 2008, the first ever regional distance learning workshop was held using the University of the West Indies Distance Education Centre's facility. This interactive workshop on veterinary dentistry took place in Trinidad and Tobago and was viewed simultaneously in Jamaica and Barbados using satellite technology. Another on kidney disease is to be held in May of this year.

November 2008 will see the 25th Biennial Caribbean Veterinary Conference taking place in St Maarten. This will be the first time this conference will be held outside of the English-speaking Caribbean and, as another first, will include veterinarians from Spanish, French and Dutch-speaking territories.