World Bank Approves US$10 Million to Fight Avian Flu in Uganda

Contacts

In Uganda: Willie Onyang Odwongo +256-77-2779-807

wodwongo@worldbank.org

Steven Shalita +256-77-2738-620

sshalita@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2008 – The World Bank Group has approved an International Development Association (IDA) credit¹ of US$10 million to finance a four-year Avian and Human Influenza Preparedness and Response project (AHIP) for Uganda.

The AHIP will support efforts that substantially reduce the threat posed to humans and poultry in Uganda by the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), and other diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

“Though Avian and Human Influenza has not attracted widespread media coverage in recent months, it continues to stir serious human health concerns world wide because of the potential threat it poses if it mutates in ways that would allow sustained human to human transmission. The importance of this project can, therefore, not be overemphasized,” explained Wilson Odwongo, Rural Development Specialist and Task Team Leader for the Project.  

Uganda is among the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa that face a very high risk of an AHI outbreak because it is crisscrossed by several routes for migratory birds, which are now known to be the carriers for the virus. Uganda is also engaged in a thriving but poorly regulated cross-border poultry trade with neighboring countries which could easily result in importation of the virus. The high prevalence of backyard and free-range poultry rearing in the majority of rural Ugandan households also provides opportunity for the free range birds to mix and get contamination from the wild migratory birds, which could be carrying the HPAI virus.

“While an Avian and Human Influenza outbreak has not yet occurred in Uganda, there is no doubt that the negative socio-economic impact of an outbreak would be enormous and devastating. What the Bank is doing, therefore, is to live true to the old adage that prevention is better than cure. We want to be able to support the Government of Uganda to prevent a situation, which could potentially be disastrous,” said Kundhavi Kadiresan, World Bank Uganda Country Manager.

The AHIP has four components: The Animal Health component valued at US$5.66 million will be the primary focus of the project as HPAI outbreaks originate from the animal sector. Under this component, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) will be facilitated to perform increased monitoring and surveillance in sites recognized as a principal landing sites for migratory bird populations in Uganda.

The Human Health component worth US$ 2.06 million will strengthen the human health strategy for the preparedness and response to Avian Influenza, while the third component worth US$ 1.83 million will focus on Communication. The Project will identify lines of communication, social beliefs, practices and perceptions and habits of stakeholders by improving public awareness and information aimed at fostering positive behavior change. The last component worth US$ 0.45 million will go towards coordination, monitoring & evaluation.

In addition to the US$10 million credit approved by the World Bank Group, the Bank-administered multi-donor Avian Influenza Global Facility Trust Fund has earmarked US$2 million to cover miscellaneous aspects of the program. USAID and the European Union will also contribute in parallel financing arrangements, through the African Union, US$0.8 million and US$0.46 million, respectively, bringing total financing for AHIP to US$13.26 million over a four year period

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