Facing the Threat of a Global Avian Flu Pandemic: Exploring the Desire for Occupational Transition Support for Residents
On the morning of November 6, Mr. Nguyễn Thiện Nhân, Deputy Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and head of the city’s avian flu prevention steering committee, announced the launch of the 62nd “Green Sunday” campaign themed “Join Hands to Clean Up the Environment to Prevent Avian Influenza H5N1 and Human Influenza Pandemic” in Hoc Mon District.
 |
Deputy Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyễn Thiện Nhân consulting with local residents and authorities at the poultry slaughtering area in Ward 5, District 8 |
Over 450 youth members and local residents participated in a comprehensive environmental sanitation campaign in the residential area, spraying disinfectants at markets, poultry farms, and slaughterhouses, and displaying banners in public places…
On the same day, the avian flu prevention steering committee led by Mr. Nguyễn Thiện Nhân inspected several “hot spots” for poultry farming, trading, and slaughtering (both legal and illegal) within the city.
During the visit, Mr. Hồ Văn Hải from Xóm Mới 2 Hamlet, Trung Chánh Commune, Hoc Mon District, who runs a large poultry farming operation, reported to Mr. Nguyễn Thiện Nhân that his farm still had 5,000 birds with no market for sale. The city’s directive requiring residents to sell their poultry in a short period is unfeasible. Furthermore, if poultry farming is halted, the city must quickly consider providing support for relocating farms to provinces that do not prohibit poultry farming.
At Trần Chánh Chiếu Market (District 5), local authorities reported to Mr. Nhân that many vendors who previously sold chickens had switched to selling rice and fresh produce. However, some households still secretly traded live poultry, citing uncertainty about alternative livelihoods.
In District 8, after assessing the situation at the chicken and duck slaughtering area in Ward 5, Deputy Chairman Nguyễn Thiện Nhân suggested that a consensus should be reached to discontinue the implementation of the concentrated slaughterhouse project in Ward 6.
YẾN TRINH
