Nigeria: Mass Campaign Against Bird Flu Kicks Off in Kano

27 March 2009

Mass awareness campaign against Avian Influenza has kicked off in Kano, with a view to forestalling future recurrence of the outbreak.

The campaign, which was scheduled to take place in nine local governments of the state, was also aimed at conducting social mobilisation activities for migrant poultry workers, traders, transporters, among others.

The Kano Project Desk Officer of Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness Project (AICP), Surajo Ibrahim Gaya, revealed that the sensitisation campaign will also focus on emergency response, intensification of disease surveillance, advocacy and behavioural change.

Gaya said in order to contain the influenza, the Federal Government, in collaboration with World Bank, established Avian Influenza control project with offices at national, states and local governments.

Also speaking, the Programme Assistant of International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Mr James Atusue said the reason why the campaign takes place in Kano was because there were cases of bird flu in Kano.

He said the campaign has already been flagged off in Anambra, Lagos and Borno State . "These are some of the states that recorded cases of avian influenza, that is why we focus our campaigns in these states," he said.

According to him, the campaign would also involve behavioural change, which entails inculcating the culture of washing hands in the poultry traders, transporters, among others.

Mr Atusue further added that there is relationship between human and avian influenza, noting that when care is not taken, the avian influenza may lead to human influenza.