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Create expands bird flu project
The Center for Human Resource Development and Applied Technology (Create) is expanding its community-based project, taking its Avian Influenza (H5N1) Responsive Village project into several villages in regencies -- Jembrana, Tabanan and Klungkung
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The Center for Human Resource Development and Applied Technology (Create) is expanding its community-based project, taking its Avian Influenza (H5N1) Responsive Village project into several villages in regencies -- Jembrana, Tabanan and Klungkung.
"We started the community empowerment program in Sedang village, Badung regency in 2006, and this year we will replicate it in Jembrana, Tabanan and Klungkung," said head of Create's Bali chapter I.G.N Mahardhika told The Jakarta Post here on Saturday.
He said in Sedang Village, public campaigns including public gatherings and door-to-door visits had been the first step taken. The outreach work targeted village residents and schoolchildren in an effort to raise awareness on the virus.
After that the center introduced the use of special nets to contain the movement of chickens and ducks in backyard farms.
"We recommended they develop healthy backyard farming by installing the special net around the farm to minimize direct contact between human and fowls."
Besides that, the net would make it easier for the health authorities to vaccinate the poultry and to implement bio-security measures.
Mahardika added the net system was quite affordable for farmers and also easy to maintain.
"The installation of the net takes no more than Rp 200,000 (US$21.9) and it can handle 20 to 30 birds," Mahardika said.
He said that empowerment was the key in containing the spread of avian influenza.
The center conducted a seminar in Takmung Village of Klungkung on Friday to mark the commencement of the program.
"Takmung village was chosen (as a place to kick off the program) because it is one of the areas that has a high risk of Avian Influenza outbreak since a lot of people in Takmung village are poultry farmers," he said, adding that there were around 50 duck farmers there.
The center will cooperate with the National Committee for the Avian Influenza Monitoring and the Medical faculty of Udayana University .
The program is funded by Canadian government through the UNICEF.
Mahardika expected that the village would become an example for other villages in Bali.
Bali has so far recorded two deaths from the H5N1 virus. On Aug. 12 last year, 29-year old-Sri Widiantari from Jembrana regency died of bird flu, followed two years later by the death of 28-year-old Ayu Srinadi from Kediri, Tabanan Regency.
