Mahmud S. Lalo
11 June 2008
Jos — The Plateau State Ministry of Information has inaugurated an 18-man public enlightenment committee on Avian Influenza (AI) commonly known as bird flu.
The committee was inaugurated by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Nuhu Gagagra, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr.Eziekel Dalyop in his office yesterday.
During the inauguration ceremony, Mr.Gagara related to the members the previous cases of influenza that were detected in February, 2006. "You are aware that sometime in February 2006, the outbreak of Avian Influenza commonly known as bird flu was reported at Sambawa Farms, 30 kilometers away from Kaduna metropolis which later spread to other parts of the country. The public did not seem to appreciate the gravity of this disease until they saw their poultry being wiped out by it", he said.
He said it was in the light of this discovery that the Federal Government took it upon itself to curb the disease in all ramifications. "The government, in order to contain, control, prevent and create public awareness about the existence of this disease swung into action by creating various committees to deal with the disease," the commissioner said.
He further said the need to set up the committee was imperative despite the fact that no cases of the disease were reported this year. " Although no new cases of the disease has been reported this year, the possibility of its reoccurrence and potential to become a pandemic with human causalities makes it imperative for all citizens to be put in a state of preparedness to deal with any ugly situation", he explained.
Some of the responsibilities to be carried out by the committee include creating awareness about the disease, sensitization of the public at the grassroots and advocacy visits to opinion leaders. Other responsibilities include; reporting outbreak of the disease to the appropriate quarters as well as distributing enlightenment campaign materials on AI among others. The committee encompasses experts drawn from various stakeholder groups which include; Dr.
Spak Shageret (M. A. N. R veterinary Hospital), Deputy Dierctor of the National Orientation Agency, Chantu Musa, Director of information, Head quarters, Philomina Shilong. Others include Mathew Haruna, Musa Gyang, secretary of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Monday Akubuokwu and Dr. Raymond Junyit.
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