AI.COMM - Avian and Pandemic Influenza Resource Link

In Pakistan, AI.COMM conducted seven training
of trainers sessions in partnership with the National
Program for Control and Prevention of Avian Infl uenza
of the Ministry of Livestock and Dairy Development
that targeted veterinary doctors, medical doctors and
poultry farmers from 12 poultry-concentration districts
in Pakistan. The participants were trained in interpersonal
communication skills, how to use job aids,
how best to impart the latest knowledge on the H5N1
virus, and how to plan product and information
dissemination events among the poultry farmers
and human and animal health professionals in their
districts. In the unstable North West Frontier Province
in Pakistan, AI.COMM engaged a master trainer who
used her position as a community facilitator with the
EU-funded Support to Livestock Services Project (an
initiative that promotes poultry farming among women
in over 200 households) to educate local women on best
practices to prevent the virus and raise health poultry.
Dissemination sessions were also held there in
conjunction with AI.COMM partner organization
SUNGI Development Foundation to engage community
facilitators from SUNGI’s poultry/livelihood program
(which gives each household in the community 30-35
chickens to raise) to help provide materials and
messaging on best practices to prevent the virus
and raising health poultry.
In Nepal, attendees included 28
human health and veterinary health
workers from 10 districts representing
the Regional Health Training Centre;
the Regional Directorate; the
Epidemiology Centre; the National
Health Education, Information and
Communication Centre; and District
Livestock Offi ces who practiced their
IPC skills through role plays and mock
meetings with community members.
At the end, master trainers were given
complete “AI Kits” that were also
distributed to the newly formed AI
Committees in the most-at-risk
village development committees
bordering India.
39