Uganda: Country to Start Bird Flu Scare Trials
February 6, 2007
Posted to the web February 7, 2007
Wamboga-Mugirya
Kampala
EXPERTS on Avian Influenza (bird flu) in Uganda, are to conduct public scare simulations to test the level of readiness in case a pandemic of the deadly virus broke out.
The initial exercises to take place on poultry farms, are slated for early this year, as part of the national anti-bird flu preparedness strategy. The strategy is spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).
"The simulations shall involve members of the national taskforce cordoning off (quarantine) a selected poultry farm and its people, before the taskforce conducts culling (killing) that farm's poultry as if they were infected with the killer H5N1 - the virus that causes bird flu. The farm-owner would be compensated for the loss," said the Commissioner for Animal Health and Entomology, Dr Nicholas Kauta.
He was addressing a training workshop for journalists mainly from African Commonwealth countries, organised by Uganda Media For Health, a Kampala-based firm of journalists and medical experts which does capacity-building among professionals on health issues.
The different topics covered included empowering the media on bird flu preparedness, infection control, contribution from partners like WHO, FAO and the EU, internet sourcing and the way forward.
The training was jointly funded by the European Union through its media development agency - EAGLES and the London-based Commonwealth Development Fund. It took place Jan. 29-31 at Royal Impala Hotel, Munyonyo. Countries represented were: Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, Seychelles, Tanzania and Uganda, Ethiopia, DR Congo and Mozambique.
"The question of bird flu outbreak in Uganda or anywhere else in the world is not a matter of if but when," said Kauta.
The taskforce comprises of the Office of the Prime Minister, MAAIF, ministries of Health, Local Government, Water and Environment, the National Environment Management Authority and Uganda Revenue Authority. It has a budget of $17.6m (sh30.5bn).
February 6, 2007
Posted to the web February 7, 2007
Wamboga-Mugirya
Kampala
EXPERTS on Avian Influenza (bird flu) in Uganda, are to conduct public scare simulations to test the level of readiness in case a pandemic of the deadly virus broke out.
The initial exercises to take place on poultry farms, are slated for early this year, as part of the national anti-bird flu preparedness strategy. The strategy is spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).
"The simulations shall involve members of the national taskforce cordoning off (quarantine) a selected poultry farm and its people, before the taskforce conducts culling (killing) that farm's poultry as if they were infected with the killer H5N1 - the virus that causes bird flu. The farm-owner would be compensated for the loss," said the Commissioner for Animal Health and Entomology, Dr Nicholas Kauta.
He was addressing a training workshop for journalists mainly from African Commonwealth countries, organised by Uganda Media For Health, a Kampala-based firm of journalists and medical experts which does capacity-building among professionals on health issues.
The different topics covered included empowering the media on bird flu preparedness, infection control, contribution from partners like WHO, FAO and the EU, internet sourcing and the way forward.
The training was jointly funded by the European Union through its media development agency - EAGLES and the London-based Commonwealth Development Fund. It took place Jan. 29-31 at Royal Impala Hotel, Munyonyo. Countries represented were: Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, Seychelles, Tanzania and Uganda, Ethiopia, DR Congo and Mozambique.
"The question of bird flu outbreak in Uganda or anywhere else in the world is not a matter of if but when," said Kauta.
The taskforce comprises of the Office of the Prime Minister, MAAIF, ministries of Health, Local Government, Water and Environment, the National Environment Management Authority and Uganda Revenue Authority. It has a budget of $17.6m (sh30.5bn).