N/R poultry farmers educated on bird flu

The Veterinary Services Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has organized a day’s public education and awareness training for poultry farmers in the Northern Region.

The awareness training was on the Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) to ensure that the disease did not spread to the Region.

The meeting formed part of the public awareness and education being embarked on by the Veterinary Services, which among other things included farmers’ fora radio and TV talk shows, and the printing and distribution of posters and flyers on the disease.

Dr Kenneth Gbeddey, acting Director of the Veterinary Services in a speech read on his behalf at the training in Tamale, called for a collaborated effort to ensure that the disease did not infect more poultry fowls especially in the infected regions.

He said the disease was not only affecting fowls but also human beings who consumed fowls and stressed the importance of the public sensitization to prevent the disease from spreading to other regions.

He said since the outbreak of the disease in May this year, 31 cases had been reported with the Greater Accra Region recording 23, Volta Region - two, Ashanti - one, Western - two and Central Region - one.

A total 48,218 birds and 1,123 crates of eggs were destroyed in those regions.

Dr Gbeddey said 25 out of the 31 affected farmers had received compensation and expressed the hope that the remaining farmers would receive what was due them soon.

He also appealed to stakeholders to give their maximum cooperation for effective control of the disease.

Dr Mathias Kojo Ayensu, the Northern Regional Director of the Veterinary Services, appealed to poultry farmers in the region to join hands and ensure that the disease was kicked out of the country.