It
is just after noon at Bebek Bazaar in Semper village in North
Jakarta, where people are busy with their work. It is quiet,
apart from the noise of ducks from three nearby poultry farms.
But the silence is soon broken as people start exclaiming about
some strange visitors. Villagers appear from their shops and
homes to see people dressed in white suits that cover their
whole bodies, with masks over their faces. A pipe emerges from
over their shoulders, leading to a spraying pipe.
Fascinated children follow the “astronauts” around.
But these unexpected guests are not space creatures. They are
volunteers from the Indonesian Red Cross. Signs on their uniforms
confirm their identity for the villagers.
Volunteers from the Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia
or PMI) have been sent to spray disinfectant at poultry farms
at Semper village and other places identified as potentially
infected by the virus.
“We did this as a part of a PMI programme to prevent the
spreading of avian flu,” said Edo, one of the volunteers.
Avian flu has frightened people in Indonesia, where nine people
have reportedly died, of 14 people infected with the disease.
Globally, the World Health Organisation has recorded 148 cases
of avian flu since 2003, with 79 deaths. Cases have been found
in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Turkey.
The worldwide network of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
have a role to play, in coordination with their governments,
in alerting populations and poultry farmers to the facts, quelling
rumours, and giving ongoing updates. One of their most vital
roles is in preventing animal to human transmission to delay
a pandemic. But, like the
Indonesian Red Cross, they must protect their volunteers, who
might be at risk.
Since the first case of avian flu in Indonesia in June 2005
the government has undertaken prevention activities and improved
the care of the people affected by the disease. To complement
this, the Indonesian Red Cross has raised community awareness
of avian flu. The Red Cross is also working with other sectors
such as agriculture.
“Besides bio-security activities, we also hold community
awareness programmes, advising people to be prepared and not
panic,” said Dr Lita Sarana, the head of Social Services
and Community Healthcare in the national headquarters of the
Indonesian Red Cross. That is why, while the volunteers spray
disinfectant, they also distribute brochures containing information
about avian flu.
Indonesian Red Cross volunteers like Edo say raising awareness
gets mixed results.
“Some were very enthusiastic, but others ignored us. Nevertheless
we still tried to deliver the correct information about avian
flu.”
When volunteers recommended regular cleaning of poultry farms,
some farmers were reluctant.
“They said they did not have much time. Actually, they
asked us to do it for them,” says Edo.
Around the world, volunteers like Edo will be crucial in getting
across the message that people must be responsible for keeping
themselves and their environments clean.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
has responded to the threat of a pandemic by issuing a guide
with facts and recommendations for its field staff and for Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The International Federation,
which has extensive experience in preparing for disasters, is
drafting a global influenza strategy to prepare for possible
human to human transmission.
At the International Pledging Conference held in Beijing, the
International Federation told participants that effective early
warnings in communities and villages were essential to the fight
against avian flu.
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Villagers
appear from their shops and homes to see people dressed
in white suits that cover their whole bodies, with masks
over their faces. A pipe emerges from over their shoulders,
leading to a spraying pipe.(p13172)
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Fascinated
children follow the “astronauts” around. (p13711)
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But
these unexpected guests are not space creatures. They
are volunteers from the Indonesian Red Cross. Signs on
their uniforms confirm their identity for the villagers.
(p13713)
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Volunteers
from the Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia
or PMI) have been sent to spray disinfectant at poultry
farms at Semper village and other places identified as
potentially infected by the virus.(p13714)
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