Since the beginning of the HPAI epidemic FAO has played a key role in communication and public awareness for the animal health sector. Awareness campaigns with risk reduction strategies have been developed and implemented using targeted information with key messages, education and communication materials for television and radio, road-shows, websites, calendars, leaflets and stickers. Strong partnerships for communication and behaviour change have been forged with other agencies involved in HPAI, including UNICEF, Abt. Associates, CARE International and the Academy of Educational Development. On going communication support is provided to the Department of Animal Health. Regular situation updates are circulatedto partners, donors and embassies.

FAO is supporting the Government in piloting free telephone hotlines in selected provinces to enable people to call in and report suspect disease to animal health authorities. Awareness raising materials including a commercial produced in collaboration with the Academy of Educational Development, are being used in pilot provinces to encourage poultry farmers to report suspicions to veterinarians. Incentives to report include the provision of disinfectants and free laboratory differential diagnosis for diseases other than avian influenza such as Newcastle disease, pasteurellosis and duck plague.

The Media Fellowship Project entitled ‘The Human Face of Avian Influenza’ was launched by FAO to report and document the evolution and impact of avian influenza in Viet Nam.  National Journalists were selected to participate under various media types including film, photo journalism and articles. These Journalists travelled to outbreak locations to tell people’s stories.  The avian influenza story has been captured to help us better understand the difficulties and challenges faced by people on a day to day basis as they try to maintain their livelihoods. 

FAO also produced a film called ‘Influenza: The Viet Nam Experience’. The film is about the Viet Nam experience in dealing with avian influenza and captures the strong political commitment at all levels of Government.

The ‘Atlas of Poultry Production in Pilot Provinces’ was produced by FAO and widely distributed to key national agencies and stakeholders in Viet Nam, which is a practical decision making tool for strategic planning.

Overall, a number of technical bulletins, articles and policy papers have been brought out directly by FAO or by independent organizations through FAO’s support since 2004.