Avian Influenza
On 8 February 2006, the Government of Nigeria confirmed the presence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in the country and immediately took emergency measures to control the outbreak, such as stamping out of the affected area, imposing restrictions on movement of birds within the country, halting the importation of poultry products and the commencement of surveillance from 170 nation-wide surveillance points across the country. However the implementation of these measures has proven difficult. Since then, 25 States plus the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and 97 Local Government Areas (LGAs) have been affected by AI. Over 1.3 million birds have been depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. In January 2007, Nigeria announced the first human case of avian influenza fatality in the country. Avian influenza is already having a huge impact on the lives and livelihoods of families and children in affected communities. Globally the bird virus has so far disproportionately affected children’s health and survival and yet its destructive impact on children goes far beyond the immediate risk to their health. Outbreaks of avian flu among domestic birds mean that families lose an important source of food and income, which also affects the child in different ways. Under the UN System support to the Government of Nigeria for the control and prevention of avian influenza in the country, UNICEF’s primary responsibility is in the area of communication. UNICEF took up the challenge of leading the UN work on communication, building on experiences with polio eradication, sanitation and hygiene education. An avian influenza communication strategy was developed with Government and other development partners in the very early days of the first outbreak. Since then, UNICEF has been supporting Avian Influenza Public Enlightenment Committees at National, State and LGA levels to coordinate all avian influenza communication activities. The main features of the UNICEF avian influenza communication strategy in Nigeria are crafted around four key components:
Since 2006, the Federal Ministry of Information and UNICEF in partnership with organization such as the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, the Nigeria Guild of Editors, BBC World Service Trust trained over 370 journalists, radio producers and broadcast managers to give them adequate knowledge and the skills to report on avian influenza. Media training and orientations were also undertaken at State level. Over 5,000 copies of avian influenza media kits were developed and distributed nationwide to the media and other stakeholders. This has resulted in continuous coverage of avian influenza issues in the media as well as sensitisation programmes, particularly in the State media. In 2007, over 1,500 avian influenza related stories were reported in 297 print and electronic media editions/programmes nationwide. A ‘Training of Trainers’ and Communication Surveillance Manual as well as a risk communication strategy document have all been developed to strengthen avian influenza communication. Posters, handbills and flyers in the four main languages - English, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba - were also produced and distributed throughout the country. As a result, many Nigerians across the nation have become much more aware of the risks of avian influenza and how to protect themselves.
|
