UNICEF to Distribute 100,000 Bird Flu Prevention Kits in Indonesia

This article details a new initiative by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to help communities to combat avian influenza. In May 2007, UNICEF distributed the first Avian Influenza (AI) Kits to Garut, one of Indonesia’s bird flu ‘hotspots.’ The kits contain soap, gloves, masks, an instructional booklet, street banners and short films explaining how to prevent and contain avian flu.

According to the article, village leaders will use the AI Kits as an educational tool to demonstrate ways to reduce the spread of bird flu. Some leaders plan to establish public hand-washing sites to promote healthy and clean behaviour. According to Garut’s senior health administrator, the AI Kits will “motivate people to launch collective action, to clean up their neighbourhoods to get rid of bird flu.”

According to the article, UNICEF plans to distribute 100,000 kits to villages across Java and South Sulewesi. 1,200 of the kits will be distributed to 21 sub-districts in Garut, which will provide over 2 million people with valuable information and tools on how to reduce the spread of the disease.