As South Africa continues to grapple with Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) says World Veterinary Day 2026 is a timely reminder that veterinarians are not only essential to animal health but are also critical to protecting the country’s food security, public health and agricultural stability. The World Veterinary Association’s 2026 theme, “Veterinarians: Guardians of Food and Health,” underscores the profession’s role in safeguarding food safety, food security and public health.
SAVA says the current FMD situation has once again exposed how vital veterinarians are to the functioning of the country’s livestock systems, disease control efforts and broader food value chain. Government has intensified its response through a nationwide vaccination campaign, movement controls, surveillance and strengthened biosecurity measures, while warning that outbreaks carry serious consequences for farmers, food security and trade in livestock and animal products.
While veterinarians are often most visible in companion animal care, SAVA says their role stretches far beyond the consulting room. Veterinarians are central to disease surveillance, outbreak response, livestock health, food production systems, animal welfare and the protection of the public from animal health threats that can have far-reaching national consequences. This is exactly the broader contribution the 2026 World Veterinary Day theme aims to highlight globally.
“Too often, the veterinary profession is viewed too narrowly,” says Dr Ziyanda Majokweni President of the South African Association “Veterinarians do far more than care for pets. They are a frontline defence in protecting animal health, supporting safe and sustainable food systems, and helping safeguard public health. In a country facing ongoing FMD outbreaks, that role becomes impossible to ignore.”
SAVA says the FMD crisis should sharpen public and policymaker understanding of the profession’s real national value. Although FMD does not pose a direct threat to human health, outbreaks can devastate the livestock sector, disrupt agricultural production, threaten farmer livelihoods and place pressure on food systems and trade. In that context, veterinarians are not peripheral to the national response – they are central to it.
“Veterinary expertise is essential when the country is dealing with animal disease threats that affect production, movement, biosecurity and market confidence,” said Majokweni. “If South Africa is serious about protecting its livestock industry, securing its food systems and strengthening agricultural resilience, then it must recognise and support the role of veterinarians accordingly.”
SAVA says World Veterinary Day should not be treated as a symbolic moment only, but as an opportunity to spotlight the profession’s broader contribution to society and the economy. From farms and laboratories to clinics, abattoirs, research environments and outbreak response efforts, veterinarians are part of the systems that help keep animals healthy, food safe and communities protected. The World Veterinary Association has framed this year’s theme specifically around the systemic role of veterinary services in food and health protection.
As South Africa marks World Veterinary Day 2026, SAVA is calling for greater recognition of veterinary professionals as a strategic national resource – not only in times of crisis, but every day.
