Former Secretary General of RUMA receives special NOAH award

Former Secretary General of the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance and Operations Director at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, John FitzGerald, has been awarded the Special NOAH Award for the Contribution to Animal Health 2018.
Jamie Brannan, NOAH Vice Chair said: “During John’s time at RUMA, the alliance transformed from an advisory organisation to really driving change across the main livestock sectors in terms of antibiotic use, with the farming and veterinary world showing leadership in the antibiotic resistance debate. Some of his highlights included two major RUMA conferences, based around progress made on the RUMA-coordinated action plan for the livestock sector, as part of the implementation of the Government’s AMR Strategy. NOAH’s own AMBP project is part of that plan. RUMA spoke out during John’s tenure, to address misconceptions about how antibiotics are actually used on farms. While not discounting the good practice already in place, there was a significant breakthrough in responsible use of antibiotics in UK farming while John was at the RUMA helm. This continues under new Secretary General Chris Lloyd. As a true ‘Antibiotic Guardian’ our sector, and wider society, is grateful to John, with his logical, pragmatic yet innovative approach”.