Contacts:
In Phnom Penh: Bou Saroeun (855) 12-217-301
sbou@worldbank.org
In Washington: Elisabeth Jane Mealey (202) 458-4475
emealey@worldbank.org Phnom Penh, March 25 2008 — The World Bank Group today approved a US$6 million grant to help Cambodia carry out its national plan to counter threats from avian and human influenza, and to strengthen its health system to respond to any possible outbreak in the future. The grant, provided by the International Development Association (IDA), will be used to finance the Avian and Human Influenza Control and Preparedness Emergency Project (AHICPEP). Designed in support of Cambodia’s Comprehensive Avian and Human Influenza (AHI) National Plan, this project aims to help the government contain the spread of the H5N1 virus; reduce livelihood losses among commercial and backyard poultry growers; limit damage to the poultry industry; diminish the viral load in the environment; and prevent or limit human morbidity as well as mortality. The latter is to be carried out by stemming opportunities for human infection, strengthening curative care capacity; and containing or stopping macroeconomic disruption and losses by reducing the probability of a human pandemic and improving emergency preparedness and response. Prior to its approval, the AHICPEP was appraised by a joint team that included representatives of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Commission (EC) and UNICEF. In addition to the IDA grant, the Government of Japan has provided a US$3 million grant from its Policy and Human Resources Development (PHRD) Fund, and a grant in the amount of US$2 million was approved by the Avian and Human Influenza (AHI) Facility, a multidonor grant-making mechanism supported by the European Commission and eight other donors. Both grants will co-finance AHICPEP. The PHRD Fund and AHI Facility are administered by the Bank. The combined US$11 million project will be implemented by units within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ministry of Health, and the National Committee for Disaster Management. “We very much welcome and appreciate the support of the World Bank and other donors to Cambodia’s Comprehensive Avian and Human Influenza (AHI) National Plan,” said H.E. Nhim Vanda, Vice President of the National Committee for Disaster Management. “The Government is now focused on the development of an integrated AHI control and human pandemic preparedness and response plan, and is working closely with the international community to build its capacity for disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and emergency response.” “The World Bank has been working with multilateral, bilateral, and other partners in country and at the international level to prepare the Global Program for Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response,” said the World Bank’s Country Director for Cambodia, Ian Porter. “In Cambodia, the Bank has been working with the United Nations Development Program, other agencies of the UN system such as FAO, WHO, UNICEF, the EC, and other partners to help the Government assess and improve its National Comprehensive AHI Plan.” Rafael Dochao Moreno, Chargé d'affaires at the Delegation of the European Commission to Cambodia, said: "Together with other donors, via the AHI Facility, the European Commission is continuing to help many countries around the world to implement their national action plans on avian influenza. The improvements that the Cambodian government will be able to make in its veterinary and public health services should serve to protect the population not only against avian influenza, but also against other potential health threats." “Japan has been a major contributor to the international efforts for Avian and Human Influenza control, and we are pleased to see this project in place in Cambodia,” said Katsuhiro Shinohara, Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia. “The threat of communicable diseases such as Avian and Human Influenza can be combated only with the joint efforts of all concerned actors working both at the macro- and micro levels. Our contribution to the World Bank is truly to make such collaboration come true, to make Cambodia a safe place for people to live.” IDA is the part of the World Bank that helps the world’s poorest countries. Established in 1960, IDA aims to reduce poverty by providing interest-free credits and grants for programs that boost economic growth, reduce inequalities and improve people’s living conditions. | 
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