ADB provides Vietnam US$15 million to fight bird flu, other diseases

Updated:2006-04-07 05:50:46
ADB provides Vietnam US$15 million to fight bird flu, other diseases
ap
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - The Asian Development Bank and Vietnamese
government signed an agreement Friday for a US$15 million (euro12.2
million) grant to fight bird flu and other infectious diseases.

"Vietnam and other countries in the region are still facing the
potential and recurrent outbreak of emerging infectious diseases such
as bird flu, SARS, HIV/AIDS and dengue," State Bank Governor Le Duc
Thuy said at the signing ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ayumi Konishi, ADB's country director in
Vietnam said this is the first grant for a health project in the
greater Mekong subregion. The money is part of a US$30 million
(euro24.4 million) grant project to help Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
battle bird flu and other diseases.

Konishi said the timing for the project, which will span over four
years, could not have been more appropriate as bird flu and other
communicable diseases could cause huge social and economic damages to
the region.

Thuy said the project will cover strengthening national surveillance
and response systems, improving disease control for vulnerable
populations and building regional cooperation.

Fifteen provinces in Vietnam will benefit from the project, he said.

Vietnam, the country most affected by bird flu, has reported no
outbreaks among poultry since December and no human infection cases
since November, but experts still warn of high risks of outbreak
recurrence.


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04/07/06 05:46 EDT

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