The programme for avian and influenza pandemic prevention and control can never achieve good results without global co-operation, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan at the meeting in Da Nang. He said recently, the avian influenza epidemic quickly spread from Asia to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and is likely to hit America. In the face of such a global threat, effective prevention and control can never be achieved without global co-operation.
“The decisive factor in preventing and combating the pandemic is to raise public awareness of its dangers and preventive measures,” Mr Khoan said. “To this end, right from beginning, we focus our efforts on providing information for the public about the pandemic and concurrently involving the entire political system, such as Government agencies, mass organisations and the media. ‘Prevention is better than cure’ - that is our policy.”
Accordingly, a nationwide vaccination campaign has been launched together with resolute measures to cull a huge number of poultry, both infected and high-risk herds. To minimise negative impacts on farmers, the whole economy and people’s lives, despite financial constraints, the Government decided to provide financial support for farmers and encouraged them to move to aquaculture and large animal production as substitute farming, the Deputy PM added.
Deputy PM Vu Khoan and foreign delegates posed for a photo
A representative from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development dellivered reports on the Integrated National Operational Work Programmes for Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response (the Green Book) for the 2006-2010 period. Accordingly, total investment in restructuring the livestock breeding sector is estimated at approximately US$225 million, while total funds for health care, veterinary and information dissemination activities may cost the same amount.
Action plan unveiled
Delegates assessed the current situation of the bird flu epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as activities and regional and international co-operative programmes to combat the epidemic. They also defined the region’s common policies to control the epidemic and adopted an APEC action plan on bird flu prevention and control with specific commitments by each APEC-member economy to implementing the plan of action.
Vietnamese Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat, who is also co-chair of the ministerial meeting, said APEC ministers recognised that the only way to defeat the threat posed by an avian influenza pandemic is to work across sectors and borders.
“The Action Plan will enhance the region’s capacity to deal with avian influenza outbreaks by increasing cross-border co-operation and sharing information between governments and departments,” Mr Phat said. “It also recognises that reducing the massive economic and social costs associated with avian influenza also requires a high level of co-operation between the government and businesses.
“APEC ministers have agreed to the Action Plan that creates new avenues for each APEC-member economy to work with colleagues in other economies and at the domestic level to overcome the avian influenza threat,” he added.
The five areas covered by the Action Plan are:
- Multi-sectoral co-operation and coordination on avian and pandemic influenza
- Establishing best practices and common approaches to risk communications
- Mitigating the negative impact of avian influenza on agriculture and trade
- Working with the private sector to help ensure the continuity of business, trade and essential services
- Strengthening regional and international co-operation.
International economic organisations have pledged US$1.9 billion worth of aid to APEC member economies to combat avian and influenza pandemics as agreed upon at the Beijing conference early this year.
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