- 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.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español