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Japan Warns Nigeria over Avian Influenza Pandemic
<tt style="color: black;">From Patrick Ugeh in Abuja, 07.12.2008</tt>
Japan has asked Nigerians to get prepared for an impending outbreak of avian and human influenza.
That country?s ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. Toshitsugu Uesawa, dropped the warning while donating an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus to Abuja Chicken Sellers Association at an enlightenment session.
?Since it is widely said that the outbreak of avian and human influenza pandemic is a matter of time, we are required to be ready for the outbreak as much as possible,? he cautioned at the event that involved the Ministry of Information and Communications.
According to him, the key to the preparedness was however not in the domain of the international community, try as they might, but in the hands of Nigerians.
?The spirit of Japanese ODA (overseas development assistance) is encouragement of people?s self-efforts,? he noted. ?Therefore, I expect Nigerians to take action to prepare for the avian and human influenza.?
He remarked that as long as Nigeria maintains the ownership of the effort to check the scourge, Japan and IOM (International Organisation for Migration) would be with the country as partners and friends.
Stressing the urgency of the matter, Uesawa told Nigerians who were working to address the issue: ?The responsibility to prevent an outbreak of the avian and human influenza pandemic rests on our shoulders, and it is essential to take concrete action rather than spend thousands of sweet words.? The Chief of Mission of IOM Nigeria, Tommaso De Cataldo, disclosed that his agency, in collaboration with national partners working on avian influenza in the country, had been carrying out social mobilisation campaigns aimed at target groups such as chicken sellers.
<tt style="color: black;">From Patrick Ugeh in Abuja, 07.12.2008</tt>
Japan has asked Nigerians to get prepared for an impending outbreak of avian and human influenza.
That country?s ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. Toshitsugu Uesawa, dropped the warning while donating an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus to Abuja Chicken Sellers Association at an enlightenment session.
?Since it is widely said that the outbreak of avian and human influenza pandemic is a matter of time, we are required to be ready for the outbreak as much as possible,? he cautioned at the event that involved the Ministry of Information and Communications.
According to him, the key to the preparedness was however not in the domain of the international community, try as they might, but in the hands of Nigerians.
?The spirit of Japanese ODA (overseas development assistance) is encouragement of people?s self-efforts,? he noted. ?Therefore, I expect Nigerians to take action to prepare for the avian and human influenza.?
He remarked that as long as Nigeria maintains the ownership of the effort to check the scourge, Japan and IOM (International Organisation for Migration) would be with the country as partners and friends.
Stressing the urgency of the matter, Uesawa told Nigerians who were working to address the issue: ?The responsibility to prevent an outbreak of the avian and human influenza pandemic rests on our shoulders, and it is essential to take concrete action rather than spend thousands of sweet words.? The Chief of Mission of IOM Nigeria, Tommaso De Cataldo, disclosed that his agency, in collaboration with national partners working on avian influenza in the country, had been carrying out social mobilisation campaigns aimed at target groups such as chicken sellers.
