Maiduguri — A leading Inter- Governmental Organisation in Migration (IOM) has embarked on massive mobilisation campaign in some selected poultry producing Local Government Areas of Borno state, as part of moves to check spread of Avian influenza popularly called bird flu.

The Advocacy programme which kick- started in Gajigana Poultry market Magumeri council Tuesday, called on poultry farmers to avoid selling sick birds to innocent customers, sleeping in the same room with their birds, and reduce the rate of migration of poultry workers, traders and transporters which had very little knowledge about prevention, control and pandemic preparedness of the flu which is fatal to humans.

Programme Assistant of International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Mr. James Atusue spoke when addressing members of poultry farmers/ sellers Association, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) among others at the Gajigana Market square.

He said that IOM is a Non-Governmental, Organisation (NGO) is very much concerned about the dangers of Avian Influenza to people, especially those at the grassroots, adding that one of its "constitution or objectives is to recognise the link between migration and economic, social and cultural development as well as to the right of freedom of movement through regulating, forced and facilitating migration in the affected countries or areas."

He pointed out that this revelation propelled the organisation's country office to resolve to conduct social mobilisation activities in four states of Anambra, Borno, Kano and Lagos that experienced avian influenza outbreaks among poultry businessmen/ women, saying the on-going project will be a follow-up in the selected states and councils.

He stressed that the overall objective of the project was public Information and Communication to strengthen the capacity of targeted migrant poultry workers, traders and transporters through the implementation of proper activities that can provide avian influenza and pandemic preparedness information for behavioral change.

Earlier at the palace of the District Head of Gajigana town, Alhaji Bukar Kolo Kaigama, commended the efforts of the traditional ruler in educating, enlightening and mobilizing his subjects towards fighting the increasing cases of poultry migration, avian influenza among others, which he urged him to keep it up.

The District Head thanked the organisers of the programme and to mobilise subjects and people from his domain, as the issue of tackling poultry migration, bird flu cannot be the sole responsibility of an NGO's, but a collective responsibility.