Dr. Joseph Othieno, Senior Veterinary Officer for Communication at the Directorate of Veterinary Services and the Kenya Tsetse & Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council, also OIE Focal Point for Communication, has been awarded the World Veterinary Association (WVA) Animal Welfare Award for the African region for 2017, which will be handed to him at the Awards Ceremony on 29 August 2017 in Incheon, Korea, during the 33rd World Veterinary Congress. As if that wasn’t enough, he was also awarded the state commendation by the President of the Republic of Kenya in recognition for his excellence in creating awareness on veterinary issues. It earns him the title of the Order of Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGW), a presidential award during this year’s Madaraka day celebrations (1 June).
The WVA Award, sponsored by the pharmaceutical company CEVA Santé Animale, is more than justified by the strength of numerous newspaper articles that he published on the topic of animal welfare and its importance in animal health and productivity. Joseph Othieno has the rare combination of professional skills to include veterinary medicine and communication, up to doctoral level.
The OIE congratulates Dr. Othieno on both achievements and recognition and is proud to have him as OIE Focal Point. Dr. Othieno can be contacted here
