AI.COMM - Avian and Pandemic Influenza Resource Link

PRE-PANDEMIC PLANNING
After conducting initial research on home-based care during pandemics and the role
of community health workers, AI.COMM was poised to take on additional pandemic
preparedness communications activities, at the request of USAID. In October 2007,
a number of UN agencies and international NGOs including AED signed a global
declaration at the IFRC in Geneva to prepare for an infl uenza pandemic. This declaration
formally launched the Humanitarian Pandemic Preparedness (H2P) Initiative, created
through a three-year USAID-funded program intended to build a chain of health and
disaster management tools and practices that could be used to enhance the capacity of
community fi rst-responders during an infl uenza pandemic. H2P set off on three main
tracks of activity: to support countries in the development of infl uenza pandemic
preparedness plans and protocols in the areas of health, food security and livelihoods;
to strengthen the capacities of humanitarian and civil society organizations to carry
out these plans and protocols; and to facilitate coordination between global, national,
district and community level stakeholders, including the UN system.
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