Bird flu threatens Cameroon’s poultry sector

Sometime in February last year, Cameroon recorded three outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the North and Extreme North Provinces. It should be noted here that the outbreak which came just after another outbreak in neighboring Nigeria, left the country in total panic. On this score the government adopted a National Integrated plan for the prevention and fight against Avian Influenza that is now being implemented by the UN development programme through the common fund project with funding from the USAID, the EU and the UN. It is within this backdrop that the common fund project for control of Avian Influenza in Cameroon in collaboration with the US government through its Agency for International Development (USAID) and Academy for Education Development (AED) recently organized a train the trainer’s workshop in Yaounde, Cameroon. The workshop aimed at drilling stakeholders on how to take effective measures in case of any outbreak of Avian Influenza-Bird flu in the country, was attended by participants drawn from across the country including the Ministry of Livestock, Public Health, Scientific Research and Forestry as well as representatives from the National Poultry Industry Association (IPAVIC). Speaking at the end of the workshop, the US ambassador in Yaounde, Cameroon Janet E. Garvey, through a representative, said the USAID has contributed some 200,000 US Dollars in protection equipment and documentation to support Cameroon’s effort to forestall threat of avian influenza and equally prepare an effective machinery to protect individuals who respond to reports of outbreaks. She underscored the need to protect Cameroon from avian influenza and also prevent the possible transfer, from bird to human, of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus strain. Hear her “even if the disease remains in the bird population, it is vital to the nutritional food security for many poor backyard farmers” an effort which according to her is vitally important for the protection of lives.

Courtesy - Harry Ndienla Yemti