This initiative involves the use of printed materials and face-to-face communication to disseminate information about an infectious disease. Specifically, CARE Vietnam developed a training manual titled "Strengthening Training, Outreach and Prevention for the Ongoing Avian Influenza" that provides basic information on avian influenza in poultry and humans (including links to websites for further information), offers information (e.g., on how to organise community events) on communication skills, and presents key strategies for implementing communication planning sessions. It also features appendices that contain communication materials, handouts, and case studies intended for distribution to participants upon the completion of the training course. Carried out in the provinces of Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, An Giang, and Dong Thap, these courses were designed to provide local animal health and public health workers with avian influenza knowledge and communication skills so that they could contribute to the effort to prevent outbreaks. Participatory learning methods figured prominently in these initial training sessions; concrete suggestions for applying these techniques within other contexts are provided in the manual.

Information and communication technology (ICT) is being used in an effort to facilitate access to the training manual. An accompanying CD includes PowerPoint presentations on avian influezna animal health training, avian influenza human health training, and avian influenza communication skills training.

Health, Natural Resource Management.