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Indonesia’s diverse Cultural Backgrounds obstacle to fast Public Awareness of Avian Flu Danger


Tuesday September 05, 2006

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia faces major obstacles in its fight against bird flu, the UN Children's Fund said Friday as officials reiterated calls for more international financial aid.

The government faces a "huge challenge" to teach the rural population about the danger of the H5N1 virus and to be more health-conscious, due to the country's massive size and diverse ethnicities, said
Gianfranco Rotigliano, Indonesia's UNICEF country officer.

"This is the ultimate goal ... this is the key for attacking the issue for getting this country out of that threat," Rotigliano was quoted by AFP as saying at the launch of the government's new public awareness campaign.

"There are so many diversities. When you talk to different people, you have to use different languages in terms of the messages you convey," said Rotigliano, adding that officials should be more flexible in spreading the message.

Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous nation and largest archipelago, has
confirmed 60 cases of bird flu with 46 deaths so far, the highest number in the world.

While the H5N1 virus that causes bird flu does not spread easily among  people, the chance of a mutation occurring which will allow it to do so is heightened as more humans catch it from infected birds. Scientists fear that if this occurs, a global flu pandemic with a massive death toll could result.

The government said last month that approximately 30 million homes keep chickens in their backyards and in some instances, many refused to turn in their birds despite offers of compensation.

Bayu Krisnamurthi, head of the national commission on bird flu prevention tasked to run the campaign, refused to reveal costs of the campaign but reiterated
Jakarta 's calls for more international financial support.

"A campaign for 220 million people requires a very huge fund. We are inviting all parties who are concerned about the health and safety of many people to be involved," Krisnamurthi said without giving further details.

The government, which planned to cut its 2007 bird flu budget to 46.5 million dollars, will need up to 260 million dollars annually for the next three years to finance its anti-bird flu programs, said Krisnamurthi. 

"It's up to the World Bank to provide which contribution they choose to give ... this is a call to all our key partners," he told reporters in Jakarta.