The Department of Veterinary Services in collaboration with the Regional Directorate of Agricultural Services in North Bank, recently organized a day sensitisation forum on Avian Influenza.

The programme is part of a 3-year African Bureau of Animal Resources of African Union project. The objective of the forum was to better inform small scale women farmers engaged in poultry productions, of the dangers of the disease. Delivering the opening remarks, the governor of the North Bank Region, Alhagie Eduwar Seckan, thanked the Ministry of Agriculture for their timely intervention in making people in his region aware of the viral disease and how   to prevent their chickens from being contaminated. He urged stakeholders to disseminate the information so as to enable other farmers to adopt the best practices  in avoiding the spread of the diseases among the birds.

AlphuSainey Marong, the regional Agricultural director for North Bank Region, underscored the importance his office attaches to the empowerment of farmers towards the attainment of food security and protection of poultry chickens. He thanked the women for their proactive role in the overall promotion of poultry production and by extension to enlighten farmers to know the signs and symptoms of Avian Influenza. He seized  the opportunity to thank farmers for actively responding to the president's back-to-theland call..

Modou Darboe, the Livestock officer, North Bank Region, said the Avian Flu is a form of infection caused by a virus that affects birds (fowls, ducks etc) and leads to their death. The new virus H5N1 strain which has been confirmed in Nigeria can also infect human beings and may result in death if not properly taken cared of.  The disease according to him, is a great concern to his office. He then urged all stakeholders including traditional leaders, farmers, poultry framers in particular, and all extension workers to be  surveillance officers for the disease, by observing all the signs and symptoms.

Chief Fafanding Kinteh of Lower Badibu and Jim Fatma Jobe of Jokadu districts all applauded the regional Agricultural Directorate for their steadfastness in enlightening stakeholders in poultry production and farmers in general about Avian Influenza, and assured that they would live up to expectation in the dissemination of information across the region.

Sheriff Sanyang, the acting principal Agricultural officer for NBR, stressed the importance of effective and appropriate message dissemination about the viral disease and urged the farmers to observe the signs and symptoms to report on time, any case to the nearest veterinary officer in the region.