Contact: In Jakarta:Prabha Chandran: Tel :(62 21) 5299-3084 pchandran@worldbank.org Wiwiek Sonda Tel :(62 21) 5299-3084 wsonda@wordbank.org JAKARTA August 25, 2006--The Government of Indonesia and key international partners discussed how to strengthen the response to Avian Influenza (AI) in Indonesia, at a meeting in Jakarta on August 24, 2006. “This meeting represents a critical turning point, significantly improving the chances of a successful outcome in the fight against avian influenza in Indonesia,” said Andrew Steer, World Bank Indonesia Country Director. “For the first time, a clear agreement has been reached among Government, technical experts and donors on a detailed way forward. Now that there is agreement on the details of what needs to be done, it is time to ratchet-up the financing.” At the meeting, convened by the Indonesia National Committee for Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness, Government announced its intention to refocus Indonesia’s National Strategic Plan for AI Control on three key priorities:
an Avian Flu risk communication and public awareness campaign improved surveillance of animals and humans control of virus at source in poultry production and marketing systems.
Bayu Krisnamurthi, Chief Executive of the National Committee, said, “All elements in the National Strategic Plan are sound and important but, given the current situation, we need to refocus our immediate attention on these fundamental priorities.” Indonesia accounts for one-quarter of all confirmed cases and one-third of all deaths from AI worldwide. The AI virus load in the environment is extremely high, and human cases are expected to continue until virus circulation is reduced. While control of the virus should be the priority, almost 70 percent of the current GOI and Donor funding for AI of about US$90 million to US$100 million per year goes to human health, leaving surveillance and control in animals significantly under-funded. Full implementation of the refocused strategy is estimated by the National Committee to cost about US$250 million per year, and will require increases in both GOI budget and donor financing from current levels. Grants from donors are expected to rise from US$35.3 million in 2006 to US$47 million in 2007. The Government of Indonesia’s 2007 draft budget allocates US$46.5 million for AI control - down from US$57.4 million in 2006. “There is a very good case to be made for increased donor and government funding for Avian Influenza control in Indonesia. The World Bank is committed to help the Government make the case for increased grants from the international community. But the case will be more difficult to make if the government financing is declining”, Mr. Steer said. Indonesia needs about US$120 million per year for preventive vaccination of poultry and to compensate Indonesian farmers whose poultry is culled to contain the spread of AI. “By directing assistance through FAO and other technical agencies, donors such as AUSAID, Japan and USAID are helping Indonesia to develop a more reliable surveillance system to detect AI outbreaks in poultry. But the benefits of enhanced detection are gained only if controls, such as culling, are undertaken to contain the spread of the virus.”, said Louise Scura, the World Bank’s Avian Influenza Coordinator in Jakarta. There also needs to be more emphasis on prevention of infection through enhanced biosecurity and vaccination. Next year Indonesia can provide only 100 million of the more than one billion doses of poultry vaccine needed to vaccinate over the 300 million backyard poultry across the country. Yesterday, in an associated meeting, the World Bank agreed with the Government and key partners on the details of a US$15 million grant to control AI and provide compensation for culling and vaccines. The grant is from the Avian and Human Influenza Facility, a multi-donor trust fund (from the European Commission, United Kingdom, Australia and Russia, with Japanese co-financing that is administered by the World Bank
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