Poultry and livestock sector generated Rs 18.8 billion revenue during 2008-09, contributing 1.1 percent to the GDP, hence timely preventive measures are necessary to eliminate spread of diseases, like avian influenza associated with the industry, and to boost the economy.
Federal Secretary Ministry of Livestock and Dairy Development Mohammad Ali Afridi, stated this while addressing a workshop on 'The National Programme for Control and Prevention of Avian Influenza (NPCPAI) held in collaboration with USAID-AI.COMM here on Monday. The purpose of the workshop was to plan communication activities to reduce the risk of spreading avian influenza (H5N1) in the country.
Officials of the relevant government ministries, representatives from international development agencies, Pakistan Poultry Association, academia and communication professionals participated in the workshop. The secretary highlighted the importance of livestock for the uplift of national economy as the sector is developing at the rate of 10- 12 per cent per year for the last twenty years. 'Besides generating revenue in billions the sector also provides employment to around two million people,' he added.
Afridi further said that about 26 percent people in Pakistan eat chicken, stressing the need for taking measures that would help boost the poultry industry. He applauded the proposed alliance between the media and other stakeholders and said that such alliances should contribute to creating a better co-ordination network for the development of the sector.
Dr Muhammad Akram Muneer, Project Director of the National Program for the Control and Prevention of Avian Influenza (NPCPAI) informed the participants that the government had established 66 rapid response units in the various cities to provide the best possible assistance to the farmers and a total of 40 vehicles and 40 motorbikes were also provided for monitoring.
Since the launch of the programme, a total of 4,21,984 samples were analysed and 4291 people were trained. In 2006, 26 cases were detected, while in 2008 the reported cases reduced to 8 and there have been no reported case since last year. Dr Muneer further disclosed that Rs 24 million compensation was given to the farmers, whose livestock suffered from the virus.
Sharing the details of the research he said that it indicates that all influenza viruses have the ability to change, scientists are concerned that H5N1 virus one day could be able to infect humans and also spread easily from one person to another.
'Because these viruses do not commonly infect humans, there is little or no immune protection against them in the human population. If H5N1 virus was to gain the capacity to spread easily from person to person, an influenza pandemic (world-wide outbreak of disease) could begin,' he added.
Amir Jahangir, CEO of a private TV channel said that prevention was the key to improve the health situation in the country and awareness campaigns were a crucial part of the health communication plan.
He further said that the media campaigns would also play a role in regularly updating communities in target districts on the status of flu, inform the vulnerable groups about influenza, its modes of transmission and preventive measures and encourage the vulnerable groups to report all animal and human sickness (flu like symptoms) and deaths to the authorities.
Country Director AI. COMM, Yousof Khan shared that they would be working strategically with the media to ensure accurate reporting and play their role in promoting safe behaviour.
Influenza A (H5N1) virus - also called "H5N1 virus" - is a sub-type of influenza A virus that occurs mainly in birds, is highly contagious among birds, and can be deadly to them. H5N1 virus does not usually infect people, however, confirmed cases of human infection from several subtypes of avian influenza infection have been reported since 1997. Most of these cases have resulted from people having direct or close contact with H5N1-infected poultry or H5N1-contaminated surfaces.
Symptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from typical human influenza-like symptoms (eg, fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), and other severe and life-threatening complications. The workshop will continue till August 19, 2009.
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