Sally Furniss
New member
ADB assisting Bangladesh in bird flu fight
http://english.people.com.cn/200703/30/eng20070330_362365.html
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in collaboration with UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO), is assisting Bangladesh in the prevention and control of bird flu.
Pioneering initiatives for preparedness for tackling bird flu outbreak in Bangladesh, ADB has already disbursed more than 11 million U.S. dollars to partner agencies -- the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), FAO and WHO -- to counter the immediate threat posed by avian influenza in the Asia-Pacific region, said an ADB news release published here on Thursday.
A 38-million-dollar joint grant project covering countries in the Asia-Pacific region, provides Bangladesh with resources urgently needed to help control and reduce the spread of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus among poultry and to prepare for a human influenza pandemic, said the news release.
The assistance aims to prevent or rapidly control infection at source among birds, strengthening early detection, reporting and controlling bird flu outbreaks, and rapidly managing cases of human influenza caused by the H5N1 virus.
ADB is assisting Bangladesh in drawing on the expertise and experience of other countries that have dealt with bird flu issues, in order to pool resources and respond more effectively to outbreaks, said Hua Du, country director for ADB's Bangladesh Resident Mission.
"While affected member countries are taking measures at the national level, cooperation at the regional level requires a strong and effective coordination of efforts," said Hua Du.
The project is also helping to prepare Bangladesh and the region for a possible pandemic by supporting regional interagency collaboration, regional cooperation in sharing information, and strengthening regional networks.
Besides underwriting the cost of experts, equipment, supplies, drugs and services, the project includes a 14.5-million-dollar avian influenza response facility to provide critical financing to contain outbreaks and meet countries' most urgent needs.
All of ADB's developing member countries are eligible to apply for funds from this project, with those at greatest risk to be given priority.
The bird flu virus is a potential threat to human health though there have been no reports of human infection since the avian influenza outbreak in Bangladesh on March 23. The potential impact of a bird flu pandemic would be substantial and could cripple economic growth and poverty reduction.
Based on WHO best-case estimates that up to 7 million people could die worldwide, a pandemic would cost Asia 297 billion dollars in one year and throw the world into recession, according to a recent ADB study.
ADB, established in 1966 and based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia-Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance.
Source: Xinhua
http://english.people.com.cn/200703/30/eng20070330_362365.html
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in collaboration with UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO), is assisting Bangladesh in the prevention and control of bird flu.
Pioneering initiatives for preparedness for tackling bird flu outbreak in Bangladesh, ADB has already disbursed more than 11 million U.S. dollars to partner agencies -- the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), FAO and WHO -- to counter the immediate threat posed by avian influenza in the Asia-Pacific region, said an ADB news release published here on Thursday.
A 38-million-dollar joint grant project covering countries in the Asia-Pacific region, provides Bangladesh with resources urgently needed to help control and reduce the spread of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus among poultry and to prepare for a human influenza pandemic, said the news release.
The assistance aims to prevent or rapidly control infection at source among birds, strengthening early detection, reporting and controlling bird flu outbreaks, and rapidly managing cases of human influenza caused by the H5N1 virus.
ADB is assisting Bangladesh in drawing on the expertise and experience of other countries that have dealt with bird flu issues, in order to pool resources and respond more effectively to outbreaks, said Hua Du, country director for ADB's Bangladesh Resident Mission.
"While affected member countries are taking measures at the national level, cooperation at the regional level requires a strong and effective coordination of efforts," said Hua Du.
The project is also helping to prepare Bangladesh and the region for a possible pandemic by supporting regional interagency collaboration, regional cooperation in sharing information, and strengthening regional networks.
Besides underwriting the cost of experts, equipment, supplies, drugs and services, the project includes a 14.5-million-dollar avian influenza response facility to provide critical financing to contain outbreaks and meet countries' most urgent needs.
All of ADB's developing member countries are eligible to apply for funds from this project, with those at greatest risk to be given priority.
The bird flu virus is a potential threat to human health though there have been no reports of human infection since the avian influenza outbreak in Bangladesh on March 23. The potential impact of a bird flu pandemic would be substantial and could cripple economic growth and poverty reduction.
Based on WHO best-case estimates that up to 7 million people could die worldwide, a pandemic would cost Asia 297 billion dollars in one year and throw the world into recession, according to a recent ADB study.
ADB, established in 1966 and based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia-Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance.
Source: Xinhua