Joint report highlights need for community level preparedness

Among some of the highlights of the workshop report from the "Technical Meeting on HPAI and Human H5N1 Infection" which took place in Rome on 27-29 June, organized by FAO, OIE, WHO in collaboration with UNSIC and UNICEF, were these comments on taking preparedness from the national to the community level.

"Progress in the public health dimensions of this work has been substantial as evidenced by the
pandemic preparedness actions that have been developed and/or implemented by different
countries. However, most progress has been in establishing plans for actions at countries national levels: the work should be expanded to prepare communities and provinces especially within those countries which have significantly decentralised governance structures. There is a particular need for capacity to communicate relevant information to the public, systematically, at these subnational levels – before and during an influenza pandemic."

The full report can be accessed at:

http://www.fao.org/avianflu/en/conferences/june2007/documents.html