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UNICEF puts workers on Avian Flu alert
Monday June 04 2007
by Nikisha Smith
The role of the media in mitigating the disastrous consequences of the spread of avian influenza was underscored last week in Barbados during a two-day United Nations Children?s Fund (UNICEF) workshop on the Strategic Communication for Avian Influenza and Human Pandemic Influenza.
Avian Influenza or bird flu is found in wild fowl that originate in Asia. Because of the migration patterns of those birds, the disease has been making its way around the world gradually and affecting domesticated birds as well. It is quite deadly and spreads quickly.
Certain strains of bird flu, particularly H5N1, have been known to cross species and infect humans who have been in contact with infected birds.
This has prompted concerns of a pandemic, that most of the world?s population will be unprepared to handle the stress and an effective vaccine has yet to be developed.
In the face of this threat, journalists were invited from various print media houses across the region to participate in the workshop to understand their role in preparing the public for the possible effects of one of the projected worst environmental and health disasters in the world.
At the opening ceremony last week Tuesday, Tom Olsen, a representative from the UNICEF office, said they have realised that the media can play a key role in mitigating the spread of bird flu, if they know how to ask the right questions and how to help open channels of communications between themselves and sources of information on the topic.
As UNICEF?s focus is forwarding the rights of children, a World Health Organisation (WHO) study revealed that youth will be the most vulnerable in the event of the spread of the human pandemic influenza. Apparently 90 per cent of people who have been diagnosed with H5N1 avian flu are under the age of 40.
The Deputy Resident Rep of the United Nations Develop Programme Stein Hansen said, ?Avian flu is an issue which must be taken seriously, and breaking down the barriers of ignorance and fear is the key in the fight against avian influenza and possible human pandemic- what people do not know or think might happen can black the chance of success of any strategies that will be developed.?
Various experts made presentations on the disease, the possible economic, health and environmental effects and showed how the media can help in educating the public.
One of the outcomes of the workshop with the journalists was the development of a media guide by Brazil?s ANDI, a media watchdog organisation that advocates children?s rights.
They have been commissioned to develop the guide for later training for other journalists.
The UNICEF office for Latin America and the Caribbean have held two other like workshops in Brazil for the Southern Cone countries, and in Peru for the Andean countries.
Monday June 04 2007
by Nikisha Smith
The role of the media in mitigating the disastrous consequences of the spread of avian influenza was underscored last week in Barbados during a two-day United Nations Children?s Fund (UNICEF) workshop on the Strategic Communication for Avian Influenza and Human Pandemic Influenza.
Avian Influenza or bird flu is found in wild fowl that originate in Asia. Because of the migration patterns of those birds, the disease has been making its way around the world gradually and affecting domesticated birds as well. It is quite deadly and spreads quickly.
Certain strains of bird flu, particularly H5N1, have been known to cross species and infect humans who have been in contact with infected birds.
This has prompted concerns of a pandemic, that most of the world?s population will be unprepared to handle the stress and an effective vaccine has yet to be developed.
In the face of this threat, journalists were invited from various print media houses across the region to participate in the workshop to understand their role in preparing the public for the possible effects of one of the projected worst environmental and health disasters in the world.
At the opening ceremony last week Tuesday, Tom Olsen, a representative from the UNICEF office, said they have realised that the media can play a key role in mitigating the spread of bird flu, if they know how to ask the right questions and how to help open channels of communications between themselves and sources of information on the topic.
As UNICEF?s focus is forwarding the rights of children, a World Health Organisation (WHO) study revealed that youth will be the most vulnerable in the event of the spread of the human pandemic influenza. Apparently 90 per cent of people who have been diagnosed with H5N1 avian flu are under the age of 40.
The Deputy Resident Rep of the United Nations Develop Programme Stein Hansen said, ?Avian flu is an issue which must be taken seriously, and breaking down the barriers of ignorance and fear is the key in the fight against avian influenza and possible human pandemic- what people do not know or think might happen can black the chance of success of any strategies that will be developed.?
Various experts made presentations on the disease, the possible economic, health and environmental effects and showed how the media can help in educating the public.
One of the outcomes of the workshop with the journalists was the development of a media guide by Brazil?s ANDI, a media watchdog organisation that advocates children?s rights.
They have been commissioned to develop the guide for later training for other journalists.
The UNICEF office for Latin America and the Caribbean have held two other like workshops in Brazil for the Southern Cone countries, and in Peru for the Andean countries.