The Academy for Educational
Development (AED), which leads an avian influenza awareness campaign in
Southeast Asia for the US Agency for International Development, introduced the
unlikely spokesperson in November of 2006 at national water festivals in
Laos and
Cambodia.
Originally developed in Cambodia during an AED workshop with
government officials, "Super Moan," as he is known there, is a broad-breasted
rooster with a familiar red cape and strong opinions about healthy behaviours.
The rooster first appeared in public service announcements, on posters, and in
booklets where he demonstrated the "hows" to preventing the avian influenza
virus from appearing and spreading.
From there, the Super Chicken image was adapted in
Laos with a slightly different look.
Part chicken and part human, "Super Kai" serves as a credible source of good
behaviours and best practices to stop the spread of the bird flu virus. Somewhat
bossy in temperament, he travels on motorcycle or boat to help farmers and
communities prevent bird flu outbreaks.
AED's three-year initiative will support governments, civil society
groups, and private sector organizations in developing communication strategies
on prevention and outbreak response related to avian
influenza (H5N1) in Africa, Asia and Near East, Latin America, the
Caribbean, Europe, and Eurasia.
Through television and radio public service ads and distribution of
printed materials to animal and human health workers, the initiative aims to
educate the public on high-risk behaviours for contracting avian flu, practical
preventive measures, and how to recognize and respond to cases of bird flu in
animals and humans. Target audiences include backyard farmers, small scale
poultry producers, consumers of poultry, health care workers, veterinary staff,
and communities living in outbreak areas.
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