afrol News, 30 April - Govenment ministers, UN agencies, civil society and other stakeholders are taking part in a round table meeting that aims to fine tune Avian flue preparedness activities targeting migrants.

Chaired by the International Organisation for Migration [IOM], the Wednesday round table meeting is held in the Egyptian capital Cairo.

IOM has already begun to implement a three year programme in Egypt similar to one in Cambodia and Vietnam supported by USAID through a fund managed by UNDP in collaboration with the UN System and Partners' Avian and Human Influenza Consolidated Action Plan.

"In Egypt, the project is primarily focused on avian influenza preparedness and response for urban Sudanese migrants in the Cairo governorate," IOM news release said.

"With the possibility of Sudanese migrants returning to a post-conflict South Sudan, it is important they are informed about avian flu and measures to prevent an outbreak in case they go back home."

IOM is expected to conduct a baseline survey to profile the migrants and to determine knowledge of the virus and the practices and beliefs of this group. Besides, it will use its collected information to adapt existing materials to prepare communities against avian flu and for a training manual for community workers in a bid to strengthen community efforts and capacity to deal with an outbreak.

The programme also aims to ensure the social well-being of migrants and receiving communities in the event of an outbreak.

With 49 confirmed cases and 22 deaths, Egypt has the highest rates of infection and deaths from avian flu outside of Asia. Egypts rural areas have been most hit by Avian flu. Its latest reported case was of a woman regularly in contact with sick or dead poultry who died in mid-April.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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