ePlume: Interactive Listserv on Avian Influenza in West Africa

West Africa is the focal point for HPAI and thus has distinct communications needs from the rest of the world. As an online discussion group, ePlume brings together French and English speaking experts to share up-to-date information, knowledge, and experiences on avian influenza in West Africa.

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Community Theater Efforts in Ghana's Priority Regions Reach Thousands

In April 2007, Ghana experienced an outbreak of avian influenza in one region, and it quickly spread to two other regions. USAID's behaviour change and communication project, AI.COMM, managed by AED, developed and implemented an emergency, short-term communications response to these outbreaks. The campaign was comprised of mass media, village theatre, and social mobilization activities. Led by veterinarian services and working with nongovernmental organizations, government partners, and the private sector, the rapid response worked to contain the virus and to prevent its spread to other regions.

As part of the rapid response, AI.COMM worked with EXP Momentum to stage community road show performances. The community theater events were conducted in regions where an AI outbreak had occurred and in key transportation regions. The activities reached the general public, consumers of poultry, poultry vendors, and backyard and commercial farmers with key AI prevention and reporting messages. In total, the 48 events reached an estimated 23,450 people. AI.COMM also conducted research at the activations to measure recall and retention of key messages. The final research results are expected in December 2007.

Read more stories like these in the AI.COMMuniqué

New USAID avian and pandemic influenza partners brochures

New brochures detailing USAID's avian influenza global technical partners for pandemic prevention and pandemic preparedness and response are now available.

AED Joins with Other NGOs in Signing Red Cross Declaration to Fight Possible Human Influenza Pandemic

AED has joined more than 20 other international non-governmental organizations in signing a historic declaration to prepare for a possible human influenza pandemic.

At a ceremony held in late October at the headquarters of the International Federation of the Red Cross in Geneva, Margaret Burns Parlato, senior vice president and director of the AED Global Health, Population, and Nutrition Group, signed the document and pledged that AED would continue its efforts to prepare communities for a possible pandemic.

The event kicked off a global effort that includes the Red Cross, United Nations agencies such as the World Health Organization and UNICEF, and USAID.

“AED was invited to sign the declaration because of our work on avian influenza,” said Parlato. “This alliance of United Nations agencies and NGOs creates a partnership that brings together technical knowledge, community presence, and outreach expertise.”

Under the new global partnership, AED will support communication activities in large countries considered to be the most likely places for a pandemic to start because they have had high rates of avian flu outbreaks. They include Vietnam, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, and Indonesia. For the past two years AED has worked in more than 15 countries reaching communities with the best practices to use in case of an outbreak.

“Within communities, there are many different audiences that need to know how to prepare for a pandemic,” said Parlato. “Workplaces will need policies to protect their employees, schools may need to close, public events will likely be curtailed, and families will need to know how to properly quarantine and care for those who are sick. Communication has a vital role to play.”

Newly-uploaded research presentations

• Avian Influenza KAP II: Survey Presentation and Results Summary
• Avian Influenza KAP: Survey Results
• Avian Influenza 3: A Qualitative Research Report

USAID Partners Brochure Now Available

A new brochure outlining USAID's avian influenza communications and partners is now available for download.

New avian influenza discussion group launched

ePlume, a new bilingual interactive discussion forum on avian influenza in West Africa launches. Join now.