Commentary: Strict measures keep avian influenza away from RP
Bacolod City (24 March) -- Intensive control and preventive measures has kept the Avian Influenza (AI) or Avian Flu from entering the Philippines soils according to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
Recent tests made to more than 14,000 samples and 2,514 cloacal swabs from native game fowls and ducks showed negative results.
The surveillance involved 16 regions, 54 provinces, 158 municipalities, 19 cities and 286 barangays.
The possibility that the country could be infected with AI, nevertheless, remains for as long as it is not fully extinguished in other countries.
"The threat of bird flu lingers because it is not yet fully controlled," United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) Senior Programme Monitoring Assistant Nilo Yacat, said during the closing rites of the three-day seminar-workshop on AI in Manila attended by employees of the Philippine Information Agency.
PIA Director General Conrado Limcaoco called on government communicators to take serious steps in informing the people on AI outbreak "because when it happens its going to be devastating."
Already the Avian Influenza Protection Program has (AIPP) has come up with preparedness and response manual and has created the National Avian Influenza Task Force (NAITF) with counterparts in the provincial, city and municipal levels down to the barangays.
In coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 101 military men were trained last year in handling possible outbreak which was in coordination with the National Disaster Coordinating Council and the Office of the Civil Defense.
Also, more than 4,000 sets of personal protection equipment were procured and distributed to the task force nationwide as 103 municipalities and cities had been trained on AI preparedness and response planning.
Realizing the importance of the media in IA prevention, PIA Staff Director for Human Resource Department and UNICEF consultant for AI Mary Grace Agoncillo reported that they have conducted three seminars to members of the Philippine Press Institute.
They have also held Art Therapy Workshop for Children in three areas in the country that are haven for migratory birds and are considered hot spots for IA. The activity was in coordination with the Cultural Center of the Philippines. (PIA-LOL) [top]
