YOGYAKARTA – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine UGM installed some 149 new veterinarians, consisting of 69 males and 80 females, with average study period of 5 years 8 months. Until now the Faculty has inaugurated 3,993 veterinarians. “Of all vets in Indonesia, almost a third graduated from UGM,” Dean of the Faculty of UGM, Prof. Dr. drh. Bambang Sumiarto, M.Sc., S.U., said in the Inauguration Ceremony of Veterinarians in Grha Sabha Pramana on Wednesday (28/12).
In his speech, Bambang asked the veterinarians to be committed in science and technology development whilst supporting professionalism. “The duty of a veterinarian awaits you, which is to make human beings prosperous through prosperous animals,” he said.
Bambang said that recently cross-boundaries animal diseases had emerged, such as Avian Influenza, paratuberculosis and others. Those diseases caused economic & social impacts. Also emerged diseases from outside due to global warming and trade globalisation. “This situation has encouraged other countries to ensure the functions of national animal health system,”
In his opinion, the phenomenon due to change of human activities can spark new diseases and cause the re-emergence of old diseases. The diseases will unexpectedly affect public health. “New veterinarians need to prepare and consider possible problems in the future,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Association of Indonesian Veterinarians (PDHI), Dr. drh. Wiwiek Bagja, said that the opportunity for veterinarians was increasing as the Government has signed the regional ASEAN agreement on national qualification framework for university graduates competence. Therefore, Indonesia no longer closes the door for graduates from outside Indonesia to work here. “PDHI will be the main institution that filters foreign vets. It will give permit, competence, expertise standard and number of people,” she said.
Wiwiek touched upon the issue the duty of a vet to maintain quality animal feed provision amidst the increasing demands. One role is to maintain the quality of living animal trade and its products. “Everyone needs food and food consists not only rice, but also meat, milk and egggs. If unable to provide food from animals and increase resources, national food sovereignty is threatened,” she concluded.