Kathmandu, Sept 29: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, said that knowledge of veterinarians needs to be concentrated in the areas of public health and food security.

Addressing the program organized by the first Nepal-India International Public Health, in Kathmandu, on Friday, DPM Shrestha said that by bringing the skills and knowledge of veterinarians to the forefront, there is a need to strengthen such areas.

He said that the role of veterinarians is crucial to deliver safe animal-based food to the public. The services of veterinarians are on the verge of restructuring.

He said that is a commitment to strengthen the public health institutions under the new structure.

“This is high time that we utilize the skills and knowledge of the public health veterinarians in public health and food safety and bring it to the forefront. We can further strengthen these sectors. There is a struggle to meet the food safety standard for population growth in the least developed countries. The role of veterinarians to deliver animal-based food safely to the public is crucial,” said DPM Shrestha.

DPM Shrestha said,” I understand that there is a need to build enough framework to fulfil this aim. We are in a phase to restructure the veterinary services. Veterinarian public health institutions play a vital role in curbing zoonotic and other communicable diseases and ensuring public health through food safety. For that, we are committed to strengthening the public health under the new institutions.”

He said that the role of the veterinary public health institutions is crucial to curb zoonotic and other communicable diseases and to protect public health.