<< Back to Spotlight Home

Training Monks as Avian Influenza Trainers in Cambodia

The 10 monks who attended the TOT in Phnom Penh, along with Berengere de Negri and Sea Sokhon of FHI 360

MID-BCC hosted a training for Buddhist monks on avian influenza prevention at the Phnom Penh FHI 360 office on February 27. The training is part of MID-BCC's strategy to improve communication to help reduce the chance of outbreaks in Cambodia. At USAID/Cambodia's invitation, Berengere deNegri, FHI 360 Behavior Change and Communication (BCC) technical expert, visited Phnom Penh to do an assessment and make recommendations to the government and USAID on interventions. During her stay, she led the training of 10 monks.

Two monks practice washing their hands with soap and clean water.

2,000 bars of soap wrapped with the Supermoan logo and H5N1 messages were distributed to the monks

The training focused on the transmission of the H5N1 virus along with best practices to reduce or prevent outbreaks. Each monk practiced the correct technique for hand washing with soap and water. The Phnom Penh training equipped these 10 monks with the skills to lead their own training sessions for other monks, which were conducted March 10 and 11.

After receiving this training, the monks commenced Dhammayietra 22, this year's annual peace walk. The walk will take the monks through the district of Samraong and five communes in Oddar Meanchey Province, which is located next to a province (Banteay Meanchey) that is bordered by Thailand and at high risk for H5N1 outbreaks. During their walk, the monks will share H5N1 prevention measures and demonstrate hand washing with soap.

<< Back to Spotlight Home