Importance of veterinarians in the control, prevention and mitigation of natural disasters in Colombia

Abstract

Throughout the past 40 years, there have been approximately 150 natural disasters in Colombia according to the FAO, since it is a country with greater vulnerability, due to its location in the intertropical belt and for having extensive coastal areas. Veterinarians should be the first involved in the control and mitigation of natural disasters in the Colombian regions. Unfortunately, this participation is limited by the lack of knowledge and training in this matter, seeing as it is not even part of the curriculum of the Veterinary Medicine study program, nor a subject for specialization or postgraduate studies in our context. We gathered data and information both from the databases of different entities and on field, by heading to one of the affected areas in late April 2012. Professionals must participate in the control, mitigation and prevention of disasters, given that veterinary public health is part of human public health. Thus, we confirm how important it is to create a permanent national committee for emergencies and disasters, constituted by official veterinary services, in which the importance of participating in the recovery of areas affected by natural disasters is highlighted.