Since HPAI surfaced in December 2003, the Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES) has played an important role in the fight against the disease. Because of the magnitude of the crisis, an avian influenza Technical Task Force was established at FAO headquarters in Rome to follow the AI epidemic and provide technical support in matters related to the AI emergency in Asia and to facilitate communication among relevant organizations such as OIE and WHO.
The Technical Task Force is led by the Animal Health Service and the technical staff of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific with the participation of the Animal Production Service, Livestock Information, Sector Analysis and Policy Branch. The Technical Cooperation Department (the Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation Division and Field Operations Division have provided guidance in country and regional technical cooperation project support) and Information Division (News and Multimedia Service) of FAO have facilitated public media interaction.
In order to support Asian countries in their efforts to control and eradicate the disease and to assess the socio-economic impact of the AI crisis, FAO has responded through the implementation of Technical Cooperation Programme and Trust Fund projects. Technical support missions have been sent to the affected countries.
In response to the AI crisis in Asia, FAO has implemented under its Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) a number of projects in countries affected by or at risk of infection with HPAI virus. In addition to the six country-specific projects that are currently being implemented in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Pakistan and Viet Nam, five regional/subregional projects covering clusters of countries in parts of Asia have been implemented for regional coordination and approach. The total input of the TCP projects alone will be nearly US$4 million, and this sum does not include contributions made by donor countries. Additional TCP projects for non-infected countries are in the process of approval.
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R. WEBB |
The objective of the projects is to support these countries in their efforts to control/ eradicate the disease. Technical assistance provided includes training of national staff; design and implementation of epidemiological and surveillance studies; strengthening of government diagnostic laboratories; strengthening of regional networking for control and surveillance of the disease; and provision of specific inputs. One TCP project has been dedicated specifically for rehabilitation.
In this context, a number of experts were fielded to beneficiary countries for short-/medium-term missions (two weeks to three work months) to review and assess with national counterparts the situation of the disease and assist in strengthening the country capacity for disease control and surveillance at both the central and provincial levels. As of 13 July 2004, 19 experts were in the field. The expert missions also cover epidemiology, GIS mapping and laboratory diagnostics in addition to the training in specific areas.
The implementation of the TCP projects also covers provision of expendable and non-expendable equipment to support the control and surveillance of avian influenza outbreaks in infected countries. A large amount of inputs, mainly protective materials, laboratory equipment and supplies and communication tools, are procured either locally or through international tenders.
Training and public awareness campaigns are important components in all these projects; various in-country and regional training workshops have been organized. Through professional training sessions and technical assistance, national staff will gain the capacity for epidemiologically based investigations, advanced GIS mapping and laboratory diagnosis of avian influenza and other poultry diseases. Education and awareness sessions on safe disposal and disinfection procedures are also organized for farmers and government workers. Technology transfer for vaccine production and use of quality-assured avian influenza vaccines under the OIE standard are promoted in Indonesia and Pakistan through expert consultancies.
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FAO REPRESENTATION (FAOR)-LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC |
Donors have contributed to the FAO Trust Fund project activities in support of efforts to control the outbreak of AI in many countries in Asia. As of May 2004, the total amount of these contributions was valued at US$1.9 million benefiting four infected countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam.
The Government of Japan has approved a US$1.6 million grant to support the avian influenza control programme in these four countries with the objective to upgrade the local capacities so as to ensure effective monitoring and surveillance and implementation of AI control measures.
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FAOR-CAMBODIA |
This project provides for the procurement of laboratory and field equipment including eight vehicles (two per country) for training and surveillance activities in all recipient countries.
To support project activities five international epidemiologists have been fielded to different countries, and national consultants have been appointed to coordinate and oversee project inputs and outputs.
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I. DOUGLAS |
The Government of Germany is supporting Cambodia and Indonesia through FAO with a donation of US$110 700 in emergency assistance for prevention, disease investigation and surveillance of avian influenza in both countries. Assistance through this project is provided for one year. The contribution for Indonesia has been used to provide antigens and antisera for laboratory diagnosis and surveillance of avian influenza and to support public awareness activities and training of veterinary staff in biosecurity measures. In Cambodia, the German contribution will provide support to the three established task forces (surveillance and laboratory diagnostics, outbreak control interventions and communications and mass media). In addition, public awareness campaigns and workshops for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders in rural areas will be organized in collaboration with the NGO Vétérinaires sans frontières.
Cambodia has also benefited from a contribution of the Government of Australia (US$50 000) through a letter of agreement with FAO in support of the national avian influenza control programme.
A series of letters of agreement have been signed between the Government of France and FAO for the contribution of US$100 200 in support of the control of avian influenza in Cambodia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The work plan for this assistance includes support to field and laboratory surveillance and provision of technical assistance to increase the capacity of diagnostic laboratories.
An FAO regional project TCP/RAS/3010 (E) was started in April 2004 to assess the socio-economic impact of the avian influenza crisis on the poultry industry. The project covers five countries - Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thailand and Viet Nam - and focuses on field survey with the overall objective to assist the participating countries in preparing for a postavian influenza rehabilitation programme by providing them with a rational basis for decision-making.
The specific objectives of this project include: country-specific analyses of the socio-economic impact of the AI epidemic on the major production systems and livelihoods of producers; a typology of the typical enterprises in each country with focus on smallholders; analyses of the spatial distribution of poultry enterprises and market channels; and options and implications for rehabilitation of the poultry subsector. The major outputs from the project are expected to be derived from the results of the national task forces and other information collated by the proposed coordination units of the project based in Bangkok. These provide national authorities and the international and bilateral donor/lending agencies with advice, guide-lines and best management practices, as well as a review of the major outstanding issues and implications associated with the rehabilitation of the poultry sector in the subregion.
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Activities |
Donor contribution (US$) |
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Australia |
France |
Germany |
Japan |
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Field and laboratory equipment and supplies |
- |
15 200 |
34 000 |
1 210 120 |
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Training, workshops, public awareness campaigns and technical assistance |
47 000 |
60 000 |
70 000 |
242 495 |
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Other activities |
3 000 |
25 000 |
6 700 |
157 468 |
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Total |
50 000 |
100 200 |
110 700 |
1 610 083 |
The project strategy is to assist participating countries in making the right decisions regarding the post-AI rehabilitation of the affected poultry sectors. This task is undertaken in a participatory and consultative process that is driven by the national stakeholders and achieved through:
National rehabilitation task forces. These groups, which have been established in each of the five countries, are to be fully involved in the evaluation of the impact of the avian influenza outbreak on people’s livelihoods, production systems and trade. They are also assisting in identifying the major issues associated with rehabilitation, available options and their associated implications. These activities provide policy-makers with a rational basis for making decisions regarding the rehabilitation of their respective poultry sectors. This initiative is being undertaken in a consultative process with full involvement of the stakeholders.
Post-Avian Influenza Rehabilitation Unit. In order to support the national task forces and to coordinate the rehabilitation process, the project established a Post-Avian Influenza Rehabilitation Unit (PAIRU) based at the FAO regional office in Bangkok. The PAIRU presently consists of a senior coordinator, who started his first mission at the end of April 2004, and a pool of internationally renowned experts available on an as-required basis.
The results and conclusions of the surveys and the issues and options analyses will be discussed at national workshops to be held in August-September 2004, which will identify country-specific needs for rehabilitating the poultry subsector.
Poultry density in the countries of project TCP/RAS/3010 (E)
Source: FAO-EMPRES and FAO-LEAD. |
Issues and options discussed could include the following:
rebuilding a sustainable and viable poultry subsector;
restocking;
compensation;
assisting recovery of family livelihoods;
seeking alternative production practices to prevent repetition of such crises;
providing tools and guidance in the restructuring and development of institutions responsible for the industry on a national and a regional basis;
providing education/training aimed at the worst-affected socio-economic groups in risk management, diversification of income generation and microcredit;
ensuring, as far as possible, the preservation of the gene pool of local breeds.
The immediate beneficiaries of the project are the institutions responsible for rehabilitating their respective poultry subsectors and donor and lending agencies supporting rehabilitation. The ultimate beneficiaries are the most vulnerable parts of the poultry sector that have been worst affected by the AI epidemic.
Post-avian influenza rehabilitation project mission report:
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To alleviate the economic and social impact of the AI epidemic on the most vulnerable sectors of society requires a substantive, well-prepared and targeted programme of rehabilitation and assistance.
Once the epidemic has been controlled, there will be an immediate need to assist in restocking and rehabilitating poultry flocks for those whose livelihoods depend on them.
In the longer term, the poultry sector in Asia will need to re-evaluate its production practices in order to minimize the risk of similar outbreaks in the future.
In order that small-scale producers not be further marginalized they will need help and advice as to how to improve their practices to comply with higher hygiene and food safety standards. This means that household flocks and small- to medium-scale poultry enterprises will have to introduce better management practices, particularly biosecurity measures.
The market chain may have to be reviewed and market quality restrictions may be applied in order to produce a safer product and reduce the risk of becoming the focal point for introducing and multiplying future disease outbreaks.
