25 January 2024 (Bangkok) – Thailand, one of the 28 founding Members of the World Organisation for Animal Health, ratified its foundation in 1924 through the Thai Ambassador to France, representing King Rama VI. One hundred years later, the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) of the Thai Veterinary Services, celebrated the ties between WOAH and Thailand during a ceremony in Bangkok.
The WOAH anniversary gave the opportunity for all WOAH Regional or Sub-Regional Representations in the world to engage with Veterinary Services. At the Sub-Regional Representation for South-East Asia, WOAH was honoured to see Thailand hosting the celebration of its Centenary.
A celebration ceremony took place in a historic building, built between the reigns of King Rama VI and King Rama VII.This building is now registered as an archaeological site by the Thai Department of Fine Arts. It currently hosts the office of the Director General of the Department of Livestock Development, also WOAH Delegate, and serves as the venue for welcoming high-level delegations.
Within these premises, the Department of Livestock Development invited stakeholders of the animal health sector from the Thai government, international partners and associations operating in Thailand.
Thailand developed a specific video for this event. Since 1997, Thailand has been hosting WOAH, initially as a Regional Coordination Office to manage the SEAFMD (South-East Asia Foot and Mouth Disease) campaign. Due to the increasing activities in the region, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2010 to establish the WOAH Sub-Regional Representation for South-East Asia (SRR-SEA), focusing on the improvement of animal health and welfare in the region. Since 2011, the SRR-SEA office is located within the facilities of DLD.
The technical cooperation was also celebrated through the strengthening of laboratory capacity, the active participation of WOAH Delegates at the General Session, the improvement of Thai Veterinary Services through PVS to better establish multisectoral cooperation such as antimicrobial resistance. The recent reinstatement of Thailand’s status as free of African Horse Sickness by WOAH was presented as a milestone.
Dr Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, WOAH Delegate for Thailand, handed over a congratulatory letter to Dr Ronello Abila, Sub-Regional Representative for South-East Asia. The letter, addressed to WOAH Director General, Dr Monique Eloit, emphasises the success of the ongoing cooperation and hopes for the future.
In a mutual spirit of friendship, Dr Ronello Abila handed over a plaque to each key stakeholder to express WOAH’s gratitude for the continuous support and outstanding accomplishments.
In September, the SEACFMD sub-commission meeting will gather Delegates from 11 countries of South-East Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam) in Bangkok. On this occasion, WOAH will seize the opportunity to celebrate the anniversary with a full South-East Asian echo.
As mentioned in the letter transmitted by the Delegate of Thailand, there are many more years of shared successes and enduring cooperation. WOAH is looking forward to celebrating with the countries of the region, marking their dedicated efforts to enhance Veterinary Services.
Representatives from the Thai government included:
Participants from the following embassies were present:
Associations included:
Representatives from the below international organisations attended:
