NIAMEY, February 24, 2009 - The Avian Flu component of the Community Action Program kicked off in Niamey on February 11, 2009 with a workshop chaired by Issiaka Ag Kato, Niger’s minister of Livestock and Animal Industries.
In attendance were several members of the Government; the World Bank Country Manager Ousmane Diagana; the district governor of Niamey; national, regional and local members of committees in charge of the fight against the avian flu, World Bank staff, representatives of international organizations and aviculturist associations.
This two-year project, which started in December 2007 and will close in June 2010, is a supplemental grant to the Community Action Program (Phase 1) in the amount of USD 4,821,076. It is designed to finance prevention and control activities pertaining to new Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu Influenza (HPAFI).
The project has four components:
Support to the Government’s veterinary services with respect to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, including: (i) Enhancing prevention and preparedness capacity; (ii) Strengthening disease surveillance and diagnostic capacity; and (iii) Strengthening control programs and outbreak containment plans;
Support to the Government’s human health services with respect to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, including: (i) Strengthening national public health surveillance systems; (ii) and Strengthening health system response capacity.
Improving public awareness and communications on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, including: (i) Supporting information and communications activities, and (ii) Improving collaboration with the Recipient’s partners and stakeholders, in relation to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza; and
Strengthening monitoring and evaluation of Avian Influenza related activities, including environmental and social aspects.
According to Minister Issiaka Ag Kato, Niger poultry livestock is estimated at 12.2 million units. It contributes up to 25% to the country’s food security.
Unfortunately, this activity is dominated by the informal sector, which accounts for more than 90% of all activities despite the efforts of the government to modernize the poultry sector.
In February and May 2006, Niger became the third African country—after Egypt and Nigeria—where an endemic outbreak of avian flu was declared.
While the pandemic is currently under control, the World Bank’s representative in Niger in his address called on all stakeholders to observe "extreme vigilance," because “prevention is better than cure.”
One of the main recommendations of the workshop was to harmonize the activities of different donors to enhance the impact of their interventions through relevant communication channels.
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