Commonwealth Veterinary Association (CVA)
On this page you can find out about the Commonwealth Veterinary Association (CVA) and its links to the British Veterinary Association (BVA)
About the CVA
The CVA is made up of national veterinary associations or approved bodies of most Commonwealth countries.
Founded in 1967, it aims to improve animal health, welfare and professional standards at grass roots level throughout its 52 member countries by working closely with local communities and then allowing the impact of this to filter through to regional and national level.
The BVA and the CVA
The BVA maintains close links with the CVA which provides an excellent support network for the profession as a whole. Through our Overseas Group we offer aid and advice to colleagues and associations in poorer parts of the world.
We also provide support and representation on the CVA.
As part of the UK/Mediterranean region of the CVA, Britain also plays a pivotal role since both the Commonwealth Foundation and Commonwealth Secretariat are based in London.
CVA people
The UK CVA Councillor, Karen Reed, keeps in close contact with the other members of the Region - Malta, Cyprus and the Falkland Islands.
Dr Bob McCracken is the CVA’s Programme Director and sits on the CVA Executive Committee.
The current President of the CVA is Dr Richard Suu-Ire (Ghana) who was elected in January 2008, taking over from Dr Robin Yarrow (Fiji). Richard will serve a four–year term in office.
Conferences and meetings
Delegates from over 50 countries attended the highly successful 4th Pan Commonwealth Veterinary Conference in Barbados in November 2007 entitled 'Animal Health and Welfare: Constant Challenges for Veterinarians'.
Read the proceedings
The last UK/Mediterranean Regional Meeting was held in Cyprus in June 2002, the theme being 'The Changing Face of Animal Diseases'. Cypriot colleagues hosted veterinarians from ten countries - The Gambia, Kenya, Mauritius, India, Australia, Fiji, Canada, the Falkland Islands, Italy and the UK. It was the first time a CVA meeting had been held on the island.
The first two days of the meeting comprised lectures and discussions on how the changing face of animal diseases may be influenced by climate change, liberalisation of trade, illegal movements of domestic animals and their products and by migrating birds. A session on "emerging infections" explored the particular risks posed to Europe and other areas by West Nile disease and bluetongue, for example.
Plans are underway for Malta to host the next UK/Mediterranean Regional Meeting in late 2008 or early 2009.
More information
Further information about the work of the CVA is available through
Copies of the latest edition of the Journal of the CVA are also available from Helena.
CVA website