February 25: Shortage of manpower is one of the many challenges faced by the Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) in combating the bird flu outbreak in Phuentsholing.

It is not only the first time that the BAFRA has been facing the shortage of man power.  Now, with the bird flu outbreak the shortage has become acute. The office is running short of trained people in the field to prevent the spread of disease. They need more trained people to carry out the 3D work; depopulation, deposition and disinfection.

The Chief Regulatory and Quarantine Officer Thuji Tshering said, “this is the first time we are facing the actual outbreak of bird flu. Although we have prepared ourselves on how to address this but still the main shortage we are facing is the lack of trained human resources.”

For now, the existing BAFRA officials are carrying out the work including the trained officials from other places like Paro, Thimphu and Samtse.

The ministry is looking for some temporary measures.

“The epicentre is in Kharbandi and we want to stop the spread in the country. There are two major routes; one is through Pasakha and one through Sorchen. We need people and we have decided to recruit some class XII passed out students,” said Thuji Tshering.

The ministry has requested the government for more people.