Global spread of HPAI/H5N1 poses a serious social, economic, human health, and security threat to Bangladesh. It emphasizes the urgent need to develop an emergency preparedness and response plan to prepare to stamp out the disease in domestic poultry in case of incursion, and develop a clear work plan for prevention, control and eradication of the disease both in birds and humans. Considering that threat, last 4 January, 2006 , Government of Bangladesh has initiated a project titled “National Avian Influenza and Human pandemic influenza preparedness and response plan Bangladesh for 2006 – 2008” . As per project plan, a National Multi-Sectoral Task force (NMTF) has been formed under National Advisory Committee.

After formation of NMTF, FoSHoL-ActionAid Bangladesh has been started their activities through FoSHoL Livestock Component under a close communication and followed necessary suggestions with National Bird Flu Livestock Focal Point Dr. Md. Abdul Motalib, Director (Animal Health & Administration), Directorate of Livestock Services, Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock. The initiatives are as follows:

• A meeting was held on 21 March, 2006 at Directorate of Livestock Services, where Dr. Md. Abdul Motalib, was in the chair. The meeting identified and decided the ways of participation of FoSHoL-ActionAid Bangladesh in bird flu awareness and risk communication activities.
  
• During 27 March, 2006 another meeting was held at FoSHoL-IRRI country office where all partners organization of FoSHoL along with ActionAid Bangladesh was attended. The meeting was presided over by Dr. Noel P. Magor, Project Manager, FoSHoL-IRRI. The meeting decided the probable steps combating bird flu pandemic.
  
• 15 April, 2006, FoSHoL-ActionAid Bangladesh first published Bird Flu Bulletin titled “ BIRD FLU IS NOT AN ISSUE TO BE SCARED OF - BUT TO BE AWARE OF” and distributed as reading material to the farmers, central and field level staffs, vaccinators and livestock workers, govt, officials and civil society.
  
• In 30 May, 2006 , Team Leaders of FoSHoL ActionAid Bangladesh attended a meeting at FoSHoL – AAB project office, where Govt. Bird Flu Livestock Focal Point Dr. Motalib attended as a chief guest and discussed government policies regarding bird flu awareness and risk communication strategies.
  
• During June-August, 2006, a number of workshops titled “BIRD FLU IS NOT AN ISSUE TO BE SCARED OF - BUT TO BE AWARE OF”
  was organized, where FoSHoL farmers representatives, govt. officials, school & college teachers, market players and related stakeholders were present.
  
• Since inception, FoSHoL-ActionAid Bangladesh has been collecting, preserving and distributing all bird flu related documents and updating recent information through it's “Bird Flu Awareness and Risk Communication Cell” under Livestock Program of FoSHoL-AAB.

Upcoming steps in bird flu awareness & risk communication activities:

• FoSHoL-AAB will take initiatives to trained and prepare respective FoSHoL field team members through concerned govt. livestock officials and will start works immediately in awareness building and risk communication at community level under trigger zone (which is also FoSHoL project area) of bird flu areas already identified by the Government.
  
• FoSHoL-AAB vaccinators will be involved after a refreshers training on “Bird flu awareness and risk communication process”. They will be continuously monitored and even transact door to door household of the community and very careful about showing any abnormalities in domestic, pet and migrated birds within the community and inform it immediately to the local DLS offices.
  
• FoSHoL-AAB team and the concern vaccinators team will work in the respective market places and will aware poultry sellers and consumers about not to be panicked rather taken initiatives in keeping bird, cleanliness and hygiene, bird handling and cooking process.
  
• FoSHoL-AAB has taken initiative to prepare Leaflet, Posters and Reading Materials on Bird Flu Awareness and Risk communication activities jointly with Directorate of Livestock, Government of Baangladesh.
  
• FoSHoL –AAB has already started working to establish “Union based Livestock Satellite Clinic” in FoSHoL project areas, where respective Upzilla Govt. Livestock Offices and Union Parishad will be involved, which will be act primarily as a service providing center of bird flu awareness and risk communication activities within the community.