Launch of the Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project

Contacts:                                                                                                             Limba Româna
ANSVSA: Alina Monea (315) 78 75/107, monea@ansv.ro
Ministry of Public Health: Oana Grigore 307 2514, presa@ms.ro
World Bank: Alexandra Caracoti (+40 1) 201-0324, acaracoti@worldbank.org

Bucharest, May 22, 2007 – The Government of Romania, through the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA), the Ministry of Public Health (MPH), and the World Bank Office in Bucharest organized today a workshop to launch the implementation of the Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project. The project, in the amount of 37.5 million euros, was prepared within the framework of the Global Program for Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response (GPAI), and approved by the World Bank’s Board of Directors on September 8, 2006.

The objective of the project is to reduce the threat posed to humans and the poultry sector in Romania by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and to support the preparation for, control of, and response to influenza pandemics and other infectious disease emergencies in humans.

The project has three components:

The Animal Health Component will focus mainly on strengthening veterinary institutions to improve their capacity of HPAI prevention, control planning and applied veterinary research capabilities as well as increasing their diagnostic capacity.

Under the Human Health Component activities will target at supporting the health system response capacity by  improving diagnostic capabilities, strengthening the isolation and case management capacity in national as well as in regional hospitals and upgrading the influenza vaccine production unit at the Cantacuzino Institute.

The  Public Awareness, Communication and Implementation Support Component will support the Government’s efforts to design and implement  an integrated and comprehensive communications strategy  and action plan to be implemented.

The workshop brought together the specialists of the two Project Management Units, from the Ministry of Public Health and from ANSVSA, as well as representatives of the  Ministry of  Economy and  Finance, the World Bank and other institutions involved in the project such as Cantacuzino Institute, Victor Babes Hospital and Matei Bals Institute. Also present at the discussions were representatives of USAID and the World Health Organization, which have been involved in closely coordinating Romania’s efforts in preparing to respond to possible outbreaks of avian flu.

The discussions included a brief presentation of the project components and the ways in which the project will support a national program to increase Romania's avian and human influenza preparedness, i.e. the country's capacity to prevent and control the spread of influenza among animals and humans. Technical discussions also included the implementation arrangements and establishing the best means of collaboration between relevant institutions responsible with the implementation of the project.

All participants expressed their hope that, by the end of the project, the veterinary services will have developed the appropriate procedures to meet the international standards of World Organization for Animal Health and the recommendations of FAO and EU experts. Similarly, the hospitals, the Cantacuzino Institute, and the National Influenza Laboratory will be better prepared and equipped to respond to the disease and the population’s level of awareness towards the disease will be higher, thus contributing to a more effective prevention. Since the project is an emergency operation with a three year–long implementation, participants also agreed that full attention and close cooperation between the two implementing agencies are needed for a successful implementation.