Bird Flu Awareness Education Program

Avian Flu Pandemic Prevention Program - Read the press release

Overview

"Experts fear that the strain of avian influenza that has caused the deaths of approximately 150 million birds will become contagious among humans, leading to a global pandemic that could cause millions of deaths." - U. S. Department of state

With not enough vaccine available to combat the deadly virus that has a potential to claim up to 600 million lives, Avian Influenza has caught the attention of world leaders.

"If left unchallenged, this virus could become the first pandemic of the 21st century. We must not allow that to happen." - President George W. Bush

Some experts say the disease has the potential to kill more than a half billion people over the next two years. Fortunately, much can be done to keep villagers from contracting this deadly virus. There are rational, economic and humanitarian reasons for us to do everything possible to ensure residents are

educated on how to keep themselves from catching avian flu.

Knowing the upcoming danger and knowing the actual situation of the rural community in India, SANMA believes it is our duty and moral obligation to provide life saving information to the rural and illiterate community. Hundreds of thousands of villages do not have adequate information on this upcoming threat.

SANMA Avian Flu Awareness program is administered and implemented SANMA, in cooperation with medical professionals, philanthropists and relief workers from the local community and around the world. The introduction of the program is implemented SANMA's trained Health Information Specialists, through community-based training and education. The field work is supported by easy to understand, printed material, trained field staff, medical professionals, literacy teachers, social workers, and village leaders.

Current Outlook

"Human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) infection have remained rare and sporadic, but the disease is very severe and the case fatality is high. With the H5N1 virus now confirmed in birds in more than 50 countries, additional sporadic human cases should be anticipated."- World Health Organization

Unfortunately, the symptoms of avian flu and common influenza are very similar. They could include chills, vomiting diarrhea, and dehydration. Other symptoms identified with avian flu are a continuous fever, abnormal swelling of breathing passages, lethargy, the inability to eat or drink in volume, and swelling and painful joints. Even if a person knows he has avian flu, the disease does not respond to current medications. Currently, there are not enough vaccine is available for this disease to treat the number of people who may be affected by this deadly virus.

The dangerously low literacy level adds to the complexity of the problem. With 400 million illiterates in the country, common mass media communication fails to provide immediate information to the rural community of South Asia.

SANMA Avian Flu Awareness Program

SANMA Avian Flu Awareness program features a comprehensive package to prevent tragic situations that may happen due to lack of information on the problem as well as methods to prevent the danger. SANMA has an effective deployment structure that best suits the culture and lifestyle of the South Asian villages. SANMA has provided additional training to the 75 Health Information Specialists who efficiently implement the program.

The deployment format:

• Ongoing classroom & field training for Health Information Specialists

• Village-level awareness seminars conducted by Health Information Specialists with the participation of local leaders and certified medical personnel

• Personal counseling provided by SANMA field staff to individual households, educating families how to keep their birds from getting infected with avian flu, which in turn will keep them from getting infected as well

• Distribution of easy to understand Avian Flu Book

• Seminars and classes conducted at the public schools for the local public and farmers

• Program directly contributes to the physical and thus financial health of people and their birds

• Methods are easily applicable, bringing immediate results to families and their surroundings

• Transformation takes place within months after the completion of the program because the information and training provided are usable without any further cost to the villagers.

Creating awareness among the rural community of the Avian Influenza- Recent progress

In February 2006 SANMA provided additional training to our existing Literacy Teachers, Social Workers and Missionaries to practically improve the sanitary conditions in the villages. On May 17, 2006, SANMA launched its avian flu program in the Indian state of Andra Pradesh. With a trained staff on field and a training facility in Andhra Pradesh, SANMA is capable of training and deploying more personnel. Currently the organization has trained 85 health information specialists.

SANMA Health Information Specialist train local residents via community-based seminars based on the Avian Flu booklet, explaining methods and means to prevent the deadly disease by improving their living conditions, cooking standards, cleaning procedures and ways of handling their chicken at home. In addition, the Health Information Specialists conduct home visits to help households individually implement the healthy living procedures.

Currently the program is deployed in the village communities of India, by the Health Information Specialists, with the cooperation from local government medical agencies, educators, and missionaries. In addition, village wide Healthy Friends rallies are conducted for children. Children are introduced to the healthy and sanitary condition concepts through coloring books, which include steps they can become changing agents to improve the health and sanitary conditions of the neighborhood.

SANMA's method to address the Avian Flu is more than a study or assessment, but a comprehensive package that practically addresses the challenges and brings results, which saves lives. The program educates the adults, empowers the children, and thus transforms entire communities.

SANMA Avian Flu Awareness Program addresses the problem at it source. In order to keep avian flu from infecting humans, SANMA and its Health Information Specialists explain to villagers how to keep their birds healthy, the importance of separate living areas from the birds, and how to slaughter and cook them without fear of contracting a disease from them. Investing in the manpower and educational resources ensures the problem will be fully addressed, rather than masking a temporary problem.

SANMA Avian Flu Awareness Program improves the quality of life for confirmed infected areas. Living in a village or region with confirmed cases of avian flu can be troubling for its residents. Some may give up hope and assume the disease will soon infect them. On the other hand, villagers may misidentify avian flu as the stereotypical flu, which could lead them to wasteful treatment of themselves. After communities implement the program, they can be confident that the likelihood of them obtaining the virus will be much less. This will enhance the self esteem of adults, as well as their children.

SANMA Avian Flu Awareness program improves business and agricultural productivity. The majority of rural villages in India, which encompasses seventy-two percent of the national population, can be classified as micro farmers and farm laborers. After following the advice and programs of SANMA's Health Information Specialists, these farmers can confidently trade or sell their meats, without fear of being the cause of spreading the avian flu. This will allow their businesses to profit, or at least to sustain. The Avian Flu Awareness program will also have a profound positive impact on the nation's food bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Health Information Specialist do with regards to the Avian Flu?
SANMA Health Information Specialists provide information on methods that can be applied to prevent the virus from being transferred to humans through explaining the SANMA Avian Flu book. The Health Information Specialist will educate the villagers on:

• Proper hand washing methods

• Methods to handle poultry carcasses

• The importance of keeping children away from the chicken and keeping chicken poultry away from homes

• Remind the villagers of the importance of not ignoring symptoms such as fever with a cold

• Encourage open communication on the matter in order to avoid disastrous situations

Does the Health Information Specialist provide any medical advice?
No. Unless he or she is a medical professional licensed to work in the area, SANMA Health Information Specialists are not to give any medical advice. The information provided by Health Information Specialists is supplied by highly qualified medical professionals in their respective fields.

Where does the family or community receive information on Avian Influenza?
The public may obtain information on Avian Influenza from SANMA Health Information Specialists in the following ways:

1. Invite Health Information Specialists to visit your village. SANMA currently has 75 people who are trained to provide reliable information on Avian Influenza and means to prevent the virus from being transferred to humans.

2. Attend awareness classes are conducted at public schools located in your area. SANMA Corporation conducts awareness classes in villages, public schools and other low income areas.

3. Visit a SANMA Community Education Center (village schools that provide literacy and other important information to local community) to receive a free three-day community health information seminar.

What is involved in a SANMA Awareness seminar?
At the classes, Health Information Specialists teach the participants several procedures to keep their fowl, as well as their families, from contracting the bird flu. Often, local medical professional and social workers also be present to answer questions.

What steps and precautions can be taken by the general public to prepare for Avian Flu?

1. Keep the environment in which the birds and villagers live thoroughly clean.

2. Do not allow birds to dwell inside the homes with humans, but rather separate them by protected fences.

3. Keep dwelling, cooking and living areas clear of bird excrement.

4. Fowl must be given adequate clean water. They will more likely die if they are allowed to drink from contaminated river or creek water.

5. Provide birds with ample amount food. Their diet should include corn, green grasses, bugs, and soil-based organisms.

6. Sanitized equipment must be used when slaughtering these birds. Hands and equipment should be properly washed before and after the procedure.

7. Food should be cooked thoroughly to kill bacteria and prevent the spread of disease. Also, don't buy from vendors you don't really know.

8. Handle poultry meat with care. Wash hands and utensils well with soap after handling and, or cooking poultry. Dispose the meat waste properly.

For additional information, contact your local medical officer or local SANMA Community Education Center.

Testimonials

When think of a relief work organization that actually brings relief, Sanma comes to mind.

The programs Sanma administer directly affects the people who are closest to the problem. I am happy to do what I can to help the projects of Sanma in my area.

Dr. Kumar, Chief Medical Officer, The State Government of Andhra Pradesh, India

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My wife Linda and I have always enjoyed the friendship of Mr. George. He is a great friend to have, and surely a brilliant mind. He will lead Sanma to great heights.

- Robert Evans, Mayor, Macon, NC 

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I know James and Beverly on a personal level. They are brilliant minds, and very generous people. I have great confidence in them.

- Dr. Jeanine Thomas, Chief Physician, Preventive Care Medical Center, Arlington, TX

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I have seen Sanma at work. And I know James George  and his family. When it comes to quality leadership, Sanma has it.