AVIAN FLU TOWN HALL MEETING --- A Multi-faceted Look at the Avian Flu Crisis (Reported by Joseph Chong, HKUAA EXCO)

An avian flu town hall forum organized by CARE, H5N1 Concern Group, Junior Organisation of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors and HKU Alumni Association was successfully held on 11/11/2006 at the Surveyors Learning Centre. Guest speakers of the talk were Dr. Lo Wing Lok of H5N1 Concern Group and Ms. Carol Sherman, Country Director, Care Vietnam.

At the beginning, Debra Neuman, Senior Vice President, External Relations of CARE USA introduced about CARE. CARE was founded in 1945 and it works in over 70 countries worldwide. It provides humanitarian relief in disasters and implements long-term development projects in poor countries. For Vietnam, CARE has started their work since 1991.

Ms. Carol Sherman then gave her speech and shared her experience in community projects in Vietnam. In the past 4 years, there were a total of 93 avian flu cases in Vietnam reported to WTO, the highest figures among all the countries. 42 people contracted with the virus were dead.
 
In Vietnam, national program mainly focuses on the development of Avian Influenza (AI) policy, where supporting infrastructure mainly focuses at national and provincial levels. Therefore, there is a lack of awareness and safe practices in the communities related to the nature of the virus, its causes, transmission lines and preventive measures. Also, there is a lack of participation from mass organizations on AI communication to raise awareness and promote good practices on AI towards communities and backyard farmers.
 
In 2006, CARE conducted a survey in Vietnam. 60% of respondents think that AI will occur again in Vietnam. 77% of the respondents regard that it is possible to stop AI from spreading. However, 48% of the respondents think that it is very unlikely that the poultry on their farm will be affected by AI. Most terrible of all, one fifth of the participants that raise poultry reported they would not report suspected cases of AI in their poultry.
 
CARD’s AI programmes in Vietnam are targeted at communities in high risk provinces and aimed at reducing their vulnerability to AI outbreaks, including conducting workshops and community events, and disseminating AI promotion materials and protective equipment.
 
Followed by Carol's speech, Dr. Lo stressed that there are many things Hong Kong could learn from CARE's Vietnam experiences. Hong Kong should conduct more community-based programmes, instead of relying the government and expert to prevent avian flu. Also, he said transparency of avian flu reporting and good coordination between Hong Kong and Mainland are the key to success in prevention of avian flu outbreak in Hong Kong.
 
At the end of the talk, Debra presented souvenirs to the 2 speakers and myself as the moderator. The event was covered in TVB and ATV news as well as some local newspapers. CARD's avian flu programmes were also featured in the TVB Pearl Report on 12/11 and TVB Tuesday Report on 19/11. 
 
For photos, please click here

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