Sally Furniss
Well-known member
WASHINGTON, July 15, 2008 ? The World Bank Board of Directors approved a US$1.6 million grant for the Republic of Haiti to respond to the risk of Avian Influenza infection by engaging in prevention, surveillance, reporting, mitigation and response measures.
?This project aims to confront the threat posed by Avian Influenza infection to the poultry sector, and to prevent a potential human influenza pandemic,? said Yvonne Tsikata, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean. ?Strengthening Haiti?s prevention and response mechanisms is crucial to protect the most vulnerable.?
The H5N2 virus, a strain of avian flu that poses no risk to humans, was detected in December 2007 in the Dominican Republic, Haiti?s neighbor. Both countries share the island of Hispaniola. In early June 2008, Haiti reported that the virus was detected in a few backyard poultry and individual fighting cocks.
The Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project will finance activities that focus on animal health, emergency preparedness and prevention, human health, capacity building and communication.
Specifically, the project will support the following components:
?This project aims to confront the threat posed by Avian Influenza infection to the poultry sector, and to prevent a potential human influenza pandemic,? said Yvonne Tsikata, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean. ?Strengthening Haiti?s prevention and response mechanisms is crucial to protect the most vulnerable.?
The H5N2 virus, a strain of avian flu that poses no risk to humans, was detected in December 2007 in the Dominican Republic, Haiti?s neighbor. Both countries share the island of Hispaniola. In early June 2008, Haiti reported that the virus was detected in a few backyard poultry and individual fighting cocks.
The Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project will finance activities that focus on animal health, emergency preparedness and prevention, human health, capacity building and communication.
Specifically, the project will support the following components:
- Animal health: Provide the required knowledge on the status of Avian Influenza in Haiti, strengthen facilities?specifically quarantine facilities?for early detection and mitigation of the virus, and test peasant poultry production for sanitary measures.
- Human health: Support Avian and Human Influenza prevention and mitigation activities at the national level through capacity building and epidemiologic surveillance in the human health sector, as well as the establishment of a response mechanism in the event of an outbreak.
- Communications: Raise public awareness on the topic of Avian and Human Influenza and promote behavioral change to strengthen surveillance, prevent infection and control the spread of the virus.