On Sunday, May 3, 2009, Center for Indonesian Veterinary Analytical Studies (CIVAS) together with the Indonesian Veterinary Student Association (IMAKAHI), the Student Executive Body of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Bogor Agricultural University (BEM FKH-IPB), and the Jakarta branch of Indonesian Veterinary Medical Association (PDHI Jakarta) held a sympathy act to celebrate World Veterinary Day 2009. The World Veterinary Day (WVD) is a day instigated by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) to celebrate the veterinary profession. The World Veterinary day is annually celebrated on the last Saturday of April, but this year WVD in Indonesia is celebrated with a sympathy act held on May 3, 2009.

The world theme for World Veterinary Day 2009 is “Veterinarians and Livestock Farmers: A Winning Partnership” while the Indonesian WVD theme is “Create a Healthy Indonesia with Veterinarians”. The sympathy act was started with a long march from Monas to Bundaran HI. At Bundaran HI, participants distributed stickers and bookmarks to passers-by, played a theatrical act, and read press releases.

Bookmarks distributed contained brief information on several important zoonoses (anthrax, avian influenza, toxoplasmosis, and rabies) such as disease definition, how it is transmitted, and how to prevent it. Besides disease, some bookmarks also contained information on the important role of veterinarians in safeguarding public health. In this event, CIVAS also gave out a press release regarding influenza A (H1N1). The sympathy act started from 09:30 in the morning until 12:00 noon. In total, there were more than 90 participants involved in the event. (Rie)