Ibeneme Ebele
6 April 2006
FOLLOWING the culling of birds from poultry farmers nationwide as a result of the outbreak of bird flu in the country, the Federal Government has approved the sum of one hundred and seven million naira (N107m) being the commencement of the second batch of payment to affected poultry framers in the country.
The payment is expected to cushion the effect of loss incurred by the farmers as a result of the epidemic as well as encourage them to report cases of high mortality among their birds population.
Aside this, government which has also put in place systematic strategies in order to avert mass loss in Nigerian's fledging poultry industry and to also prevent a possible human pandemic, has also projected to put in place a post avian flu restocking programme.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Frank Nweke (Jnr) disclosed this to Vanguard shortly after his speech delivered at a two-day communication workshop organized by UNICEF for federal information centres/National orientation officer.
"As you may be aware, Federal Government has commenced the first batch of payment to farmers whose birds were culled after being certified or suspected to be affected by the avian flu and is ready to conduct the second batch payment this week.
"You will recall that since the outbreak of bird flu was confirmed in Nigeria on February 8 this year, the Federal Government has demonstrated commitment in containing the diseases by putting in place systematic strategies. The strategies include the setting up of the avian flu crisis management centres at the Banquet hall of the presidential villa by the president, Olusegun Obasanjo.
"The centres which operates a 24 hours services, coordinates activities and disseminates information regarding the prevention and control of the virus.
"It has also drawn up communication strategy and social mobilization plan which provides the template for the public enlightenment and mobilization of our people with a view to achieving behaviour change that will help prevent human infection."
The minister who also announced government's plan to engage in constant dialogue with poultry industry to enlighten them on effective bio-security measures, urged members of the media to regularly disseminate educational messages on avian flu.
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