HPAI community awareness in Lao: Challenges and future directions

Studies have shown that while knowledge about AI has increased in many regions around Lao, there has been very little change in behaviours. These findings and others were showcased last week at a workshop on communications initiatives related to HPAI in Lao PDR.

The workshop, attended by representatives from all 17 provinces together with international partners focused on independent research conducted by CARE, UNICEF and AED. This research, together with reports from government lead communication campaigns guided discussions about the direction that behavior change communication activities in Lao should take in the future.

Lao PDR has had 3 AI outbreaks, in 2004, 2006 and the early 2007 outbreak which saw 2 human fatalities from H5N1. However, there are still many obstacles to be overcome in raising awareness of the disease. ‘Of critical importance to communications campaigns is that people still do not understand the risk of the disease. To many of the backyard farmers, who make up 80% of people raising poultry in Lao, HPAI is just another seasonal disease poultry disease that affects their flock. When people do not understand the danger, it is difficult to make campaigns strong. This is something all campaigns need to focus on’, says Khounkham, Project Manager for the CARE Avian Influenza Local Risk Reduction Project.

The difficulty in reaching all areas of the country was also discussed. Findings from national campaigns indicate that only 5% of the 12,000 villages in Lao have received information on AI. The geographic disparity of Lao, combined with the large number of ethnic minority languages makes communications campaigns difficult. CARE AI programs are attempting to fill the niche of involvement at the village level; working with village volunteers and committees to deliver awareness raising activities and pilot behaviour change models.

Following the recent outbreak, discussions also focused on communications needed in an AI response. ‘Messages need to be targeted for before, during and after an AI outbreak. There needs to be a dedicated team that is responsible for informing the community of important decisions in an outbreak’, says Siphone, Training and Capacity building officer for the CARE AI Program. ‘From our experience, we need to create clearer messages to inform the community why culling of their poultry is occurring and why it is important that they report sick or dead poultry. Having trained staff available to do this if and when another outbreak occurs is critical.’