Emergency preparedness training for Avian Flu in Ukrainee

IRD Presents Efforts to Combat Avian Flu at Global Health Council Conference

Washington, DC - May 30, 2007 — IRD presented its USAID-funded program to prevent the spread of avian flu in Ukraine at the Global Health Council Conference this week. IRD worked with the Global Health Council to produce a short video on its prevention program in the Crimea region as part of a series of videos for the conference about health programs around the world.

IRD’s prevention, training and education efforts in Ukraine have been widely successful. Not a single case of avian flu has been discovered in 2006, whereas prior to IRD’s work in collaboration with local authorities in the region, more than 168,000 contaminated birds in Crimea had to be culled.

“We are proud of our field staff,” said Dr. Arthur B. Keys, Jr., president and CEO of IRD. “They have worked with community leaders to develop the program, and have managed to change the habits of hundreds of thousands of residents dealing with birds and other farm animals.”

In addition to developing a comprehensive training curriculum for both master trainers and local community members in Ukraine, IRD has a number of related programs in Indonesia, Iraq, and Cambodia. These programs:

• Establish community-based animal and human surveillance;
• Conduct public awareness/health education campaigns;
• Provide personal protective equipment for first responders and health care providers;
• Improve diagnostic services to rapidly introduce containment measures;
• Train local veterinarians and health care providers; and
• Assist local officials and community leaders in creating preparedness plans.

In addition to programs on Avian Influenza, IRD has health programs on HIV/AIDS prevention and education in several countries. Other IRD Health sector programs distribute medical commodities, provide training to school children about improved nutrition, and teach communities about sanitation and hygiene.

All members of the media are cordially invited to IRD’s reception to discuss Avian Influenza projects, as well as other Health sector programs, at the private dining room of Robert’s Restaurant in the Omni Shoreham on Wednesday, May 30 at 5:30 p.m.

Founded in 1998 by Dr. Arthur B. Keys, Jr., IRD is a charitable, non-profit, non-governmental organization whose mission is to reduce the suffering of the world's most vulnerable groups and provide tools and resources needed to increase their self-sufficiency.

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