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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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

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videoconference organized by the World Bank was a good initial step
towards ensuring coordination of these efforts as it begins to ramp
up.

Brush