Avian Influenza Prevention in Cambodia: Community Forums

By Tongngy Kaing

April 17, 2012

(Editor's note: minor edits have been made to the author's original report)

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I traveled to Kampot, Svay Rieng, Kandal and Battambang the last week of March and first of April - just before New Years - to help organize and facilitate community forums on prevention related to bird flu (H5N1 virus).

Figure 1: The four H5N1 high-risk border provinces where community forums were held

Figure 2: Super Moan has been an icon to fight against Avian Influenza. Even children know Super Moan well.

Figure 3: The forum in Svay Rieng was held in a pagoda- just a few kilometers from the Vietnamese border. Authorities said villagers sometimes brought sick or dead poultry from Vietnam, which occasionally contaminates poultry in the village.

Figure 4: Thmor Kol district is about 50 kilometers away from Battambang city center, but road access is very good.

Because these communities have most recently had outbreaks of the virus or remained as gateways of poultry transportation from other countries, there was a lot of public interest. About 500 people joined the forum in each of the four border provinces, and local TV stations such as CTN, Bayon and TVK also covered the forums. Since Cambodia was preparing to celebrate its traditional New Year (Chaul Chnam Thmey) April 13 to 15, it was a good time to hold these meetings because during the festival foods including poultry are being transported to most parts of the kingdom.

Figure 5: About 500 participants gathered for the community forum in Kampot

Figure 6: About a third of the participants in Svay Rieng are students. This is their first time to learn about bird flu, according to the school principal.

Figure 7: When asked who raises chickens and ducks, some participants raised their hands.

Figure 8: There are more than 500 people in Battambang. People's condition here is better than those in Svay Rieng, Kandal or Kampot.

Figure 9: At the end of the forum, there is a Q&A session where people can answer the questions to get prize.

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