Avian Influenza: Turkmenistan Preparedness Update

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001000 SIPDIS SENSITIVE, SIPDIS FOR SCA/CEN ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR TASHKENT FOR ESTH (PUTNAM) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR PGOV KFLU TX SUBJECT: Avian Influenza: Turkmenistan Preparedness Update REFTEL: ASHGABAT 528 Sensitive But Unclassified; Not for Internet Distribution. Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) On September 14, the UNDP sponsored a donors' meeting to review and discuss a project proposal on Turkmenistan's preparedness for avian/pandemic influenza. The meeting identified roles of donors, their potential input and project implementation mechanisms. Representatives of the World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, WHO and USAID attended the meeting, and later passed embassy a courtesy copy of the document. End Summary. Recent History -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In late spring 2006, a World Health Organization (WHO) technical team visited Turkmenistan to assess Turkmenistan's preparedness for avian influenza (reftel). Together with United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) experts, the team drafted a capacity building project that proposed activities totaling $1,277,0Qto support Turkmenistan's avian/pandemic influenza preparedness. On May 12, Turkmenistan Minister of Health and Medical Industry Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov forwarded the project proposal to the World Bank's Liaison Office in Ashgabat to consider providing financial assistance towards implementation of the project. World Bank Health Program Specialist Peyvand Khalegian updated and finalized the proposal, and on September 14 presented it at a United Nations Development Program (UNDP) donors' meeting for review and identification of roles, inputs and project implementation mechanisms. Project Objectives -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The project's overall objective is to minimize the threat highly pathogenic avian influenza infection poses to humans and the poultry industry, and to prepare responses to influenza pandemics. As a result, the project will support the following areas: human health, animal health and communication and community empowerment. The human health component includes such elements as enhancing planning and coordination; strengthening the public health surveillance system; improving the health system response capacity; and medical services. The animal health component includes strengthening the national policy and regulatory environment to bring it in accordance with the Office of International Epizootics' (OIE) standards and guidelines; and strengthening disease surveillance and diagnostic capacity. The communication and community empowerment component will address such areas as avian influenza protocols for poultry farmers, hygienic behavior and food safety. Financial Commitments -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Of the proposed $1,277,000 to implement the activities, the World Bank committed to allocate approximately $800,000 during this meeting. Centers for Disease Control-Atlanta (CDC) committed an additional $100,000 to support training envisioned under the program. Separate from this total, USAID had previously committed to provide $100,000 for public awareness activities among farmers (via Winrock International) and participation in an upcoming regional conference to be organized by CDC. The remaining funds have yet to be committed by other donors. Comment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Government efforts to address the threat of avian influenza have yet to actively seek potential resources from international donors. The commitment from the World Bank represents both a solid boost to the funding available for avian influenza efforts and a limited return of the institution to Turkmenistan. Since donor funding for such activities has been limited to date, the ASHGABAT 00001000 002 OF 002 videoconference organized by the World Bank was a good initial step towards ensuring coordination of these efforts as it begins to ramp up. Brush