Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=02AGR091008
Viet Nam seeks world help with avian-flu vaccination
(09-10-2008)
HA NOI ? Chairman of the National Steering Committee on Avian Influenza Control and Prevention Cao Duc Phat yesterday called for further assistance from the international community to help Viet Nam vaccinate poultry vulnerable to avian flu, at a meeting in Ha Noi.
"Viet Nam is facing challenges controlling avian flu, including the need to find a way to successful move beyond subsidised vaccination of poultry, which is very costly and requires the mobilisation of tens of thousands of people for each campaign," said Phat.
The annual meeting aims to review efforts to better control the avian and human influenza pandemic in Viet Nam.
In September 2008, Viet Nam started large-scale vaccination operations throughout the country under the National Programme of Avian Influenza Control and Eradication, the programme administered about 750 million doses of H5N1 (avian influenza) vaccine from 2007?2008. About 365 million doses of H5N1 vaccine were administered between 2005-2006.
"It is timely for us to come together now, to take stock of the current situation, mobilise resources and work on key issues as we move forward together to consolidate control of the virus," said the minister.
"While we can say that the virus is basically under control, after five years of great effort we are still experiencing sporadic outbreaks in poultry, as well as five human cases in the first two months of this year. This underlines the great difficulty in bringing this virus under control in the current context," he warned.
"We need to strengthen our efforts to re-organise national poultry production, moving towards enhanced bio-security and more scientific and industrialised approaches, without forgetting the importance of poultry production to many poor households nation-wide," the minister added.
The partnership on avian and human influenza control was established through the signing of a partnership framework in November 2006 between Viet Nam and the UN, donors and NGOs. The purpose of the Partnership is to facilitate implementation of Viet Nam?s integrated operational programme for avian and human influenza, also known as the Green Book.
Speaking at the meeting UN Resident Co-ordinator John Hendra stressed that avian influenza is present not only here, but in a number of other countries, and therefore the need to control the virus in poultry and prepare for a possible human pandemic still remains.
He recommended donors consider supporting vaccination campaigns, develop an action plan to contain a possible human pandemic, and strengthen the capacity of the National Steering Committee.
Hendra also confirmed UN commitments to supporting the implementation of the Green Book Programme.
The Green Book, adopted by the Government and international donors in mid-2006, sets out an integrated programme for the 2006-2010 period with an estimated cost of US$250 million, of which $31.2 million will be spent on co-ordination activities, $116.4 million is set aside for the agricultural sector and $102.4 million for the health sector.
To date donors have committed $201.7 million to support Viet Nam?s response to avian influenza and pandemic preparedness, according to statistics by the committee. ? VNS
Viet Nam seeks world help with avian-flu vaccination
(09-10-2008)
HA NOI ? Chairman of the National Steering Committee on Avian Influenza Control and Prevention Cao Duc Phat yesterday called for further assistance from the international community to help Viet Nam vaccinate poultry vulnerable to avian flu, at a meeting in Ha Noi.
"Viet Nam is facing challenges controlling avian flu, including the need to find a way to successful move beyond subsidised vaccination of poultry, which is very costly and requires the mobilisation of tens of thousands of people for each campaign," said Phat.
The annual meeting aims to review efforts to better control the avian and human influenza pandemic in Viet Nam.
In September 2008, Viet Nam started large-scale vaccination operations throughout the country under the National Programme of Avian Influenza Control and Eradication, the programme administered about 750 million doses of H5N1 (avian influenza) vaccine from 2007?2008. About 365 million doses of H5N1 vaccine were administered between 2005-2006.
"It is timely for us to come together now, to take stock of the current situation, mobilise resources and work on key issues as we move forward together to consolidate control of the virus," said the minister.
"While we can say that the virus is basically under control, after five years of great effort we are still experiencing sporadic outbreaks in poultry, as well as five human cases in the first two months of this year. This underlines the great difficulty in bringing this virus under control in the current context," he warned.
"We need to strengthen our efforts to re-organise national poultry production, moving towards enhanced bio-security and more scientific and industrialised approaches, without forgetting the importance of poultry production to many poor households nation-wide," the minister added.
The partnership on avian and human influenza control was established through the signing of a partnership framework in November 2006 between Viet Nam and the UN, donors and NGOs. The purpose of the Partnership is to facilitate implementation of Viet Nam?s integrated operational programme for avian and human influenza, also known as the Green Book.
Speaking at the meeting UN Resident Co-ordinator John Hendra stressed that avian influenza is present not only here, but in a number of other countries, and therefore the need to control the virus in poultry and prepare for a possible human pandemic still remains.
He recommended donors consider supporting vaccination campaigns, develop an action plan to contain a possible human pandemic, and strengthen the capacity of the National Steering Committee.
Hendra also confirmed UN commitments to supporting the implementation of the Green Book Programme.
The Green Book, adopted by the Government and international donors in mid-2006, sets out an integrated programme for the 2006-2010 period with an estimated cost of US$250 million, of which $31.2 million will be spent on co-ordination activities, $116.4 million is set aside for the agricultural sector and $102.4 million for the health sector.
To date donors have committed $201.7 million to support Viet Nam?s response to avian influenza and pandemic preparedness, according to statistics by the committee. ? VNS