AI.COMM - Avian and Pandemic Influenza Resource Link

BUILDING CAPACITY WITH AGRICULTURE WORKERS
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Unlike working with health ministries, many of which
had received an abundance of technical support from
international donors over the past few decades, animal
health and agriculture ministries had received very little
technical support in animal husbandry. In the majority
of the countries where AI.COMM worked, government
budgets to support veterinary professionals and extension
workers at the district and community levels were almost
non-existent, and the infrastructure for animal health
services existed only on paper. Approaching these groups
with technical assistance in communication, therefore,
required a two-stage response: AI.COMM fi rst updated
the technical skills and knowledge of the workers in
poultry management through involvement with poultry
associations, farmers groups, seed and grain co-operatives,
women’s groups, and animal health NGOs, and then introduced
the role and value of communication.