Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COTONOU962
2007-12-21 08:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:
H5N1 UPDATE 1: GOB MEETS WITH DONORS
how-toVZCZCXRO7867 OO RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHCO #0962 3550803 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 210803Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0070 INFO RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0283 RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 1286 RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1216 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1414 RUEHAB/AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN 0267 RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
UNCLAS COTONOU 000962
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W DBANKS AND G/AIAG MJONES
DEPT PLEASE PASS USAID FOR MHARVEY, GGREER, GBERTOLIN, NSTUDZINSKI
AND JBORRAZZO
USDA FOR FAS MROSENBLUM
CDC FOR INFLUENZA DIVISION DGROSS AND CDUGGAR
DAKAR FOR USDA/APHIS CFRENCH AND RCOLY AND USAID
ROME FOR SPANOS
ABIDJAN FOR CDC
C O R R E C T E D COPY (PASSING LINES CHANGED)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR TBIO KFLU BN
SUBJECT: H5N1 UPDATE 1: GOB MEETS WITH DONORS
REF: (A) COTONOU 950 (B) COTONOU 948 (C) COTONOU 932
UNCLAS COTONOU 000962
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W DBANKS AND G/AIAG MJONES
DEPT PLEASE PASS USAID FOR MHARVEY, GGREER, GBERTOLIN, NSTUDZINSKI
AND JBORRAZZO
USDA FOR FAS MROSENBLUM
CDC FOR INFLUENZA DIVISION DGROSS AND CDUGGAR
DAKAR FOR USDA/APHIS CFRENCH AND RCOLY AND USAID
ROME FOR SPANOS
ABIDJAN FOR CDC
C O R R E C T E D COPY (PASSING LINES CHANGED)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR TBIO KFLU BN
SUBJECT: H5N1 UPDATE 1: GOB MEETS WITH DONORS
REF: (A) COTONOU 950 (B) COTONOU 948 (C) COTONOU 932
1. Summary: The GOB met with donor representatives on December 19 to
review the GOB's avian influenza action plan. The plan, which
covers the next six months, now assumes that there will be 8
outbreaks. The GOB asked the donors to prepare their contributions
before the GOB makes a decision on its contribution. Donors
insisted the GOB begin providing compensation to farmers who lose
their poultry to culling. The GOB reported another AI outbreak,
confirmed by front line tests, in Akpro-Misserete on December 18.
End Summary.
2. The meeting between the GOB and donors was attended by Roger
Dovonou, the GOB's Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of
Health Kssil Tchalla as well as key officials from each Ministry
including the Director of Livestock and the National Director of
Health. On the donors' side, representatives from UNICEF, WHO, FAO,
UNDP and USAID attended the meeting.
3. The GOB's contingency plan to contain AI outbreaks during the
next six months was presented. The plan covers four key points with
the following budget needs identified: a) the animal health
($1,620,000); b) human health ($83,000); c) communication
($112,000); and d) coordination ($75,000); for a total of
$1,883,000. The donors who have announced their contribution are:
African Development Bank: $128,000; FAO: $62,000 and UNICEF:
$67,000. After these contributions the remaining funding gap for the
AI contingency plan is $1.4 million.
4. The Minister of Health indicated Benin faces a grave crisis
given the impact the AI outbreaks will have on the economy. The
Minister of Agriculture stated that the GOB wanted the donor
community to study the plan and see what they can do to help before
the GOB provides its own contribution. The GOB's veterinary
officials now anticipate a total of eight outbreaks during the next
six months.
5. Donors presented what they have done since last year to assist
the GOB to prepare an appropriate response to potential AI
outbreaks. UNICEF indicated that they will support the
communication plan. WHO and FAO will provide technical assistance.
The USAID representative reminded the GOB of the $70,000 worth of AI
commodities handed-over to the Minister of Agriculture in August
2007 by the Ambassador. He also indicated that USAID may support the
communication plan using expertise and resources under the AED/STOP
AI project based in Dakar, to complement UNICEF's contribution in
this area. He informed the donors and GOB that USDA is currently
shipping test kits to Cotonou. The USAID representative also
indicated the USG might provide sample collection boxes and that CDC
staff based in Abidjan are ready to provide training to veterinary
technicians.
6. Donors insisted on the need to do something to compensate
farmers who will loose hundreds or thousands of birds. The Director
of Livestock mentioned that there is resistance among affected
farmers with regards to culling the birds. The Minister of Health
indicated that culling birds should not be negotiable and the GOB
should be ready to use the army if necessary.
7. Both Ministers will give a press conference sponsored by WHO this
evening. The purpose is to inform the public about what the GOB is
doing and planning to do to contain the AI outbreaks. The Minister
of Health will also provide information on the human side of the AI
outbreaks.
8. Two new AI outbreaks were identified in Akpro-Misserete, a town
in eastern Benin not far from the site of the first outbreak (Ref C)
on December 18. A first line test performed by the GOB was positive
for AI. Additionally, the GOB culled 7,000 birds in Adjarra, the
site of the first outbreak (Ref C),on December 19 and provided
compensation to the farmers of the culled birds.
BROWN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W DBANKS AND G/AIAG MJONES
DEPT PLEASE PASS USAID FOR MHARVEY, GGREER, GBERTOLIN, NSTUDZINSKI
AND JBORRAZZO
USDA FOR FAS MROSENBLUM
CDC FOR INFLUENZA DIVISION DGROSS AND CDUGGAR
DAKAR FOR USDA/APHIS CFRENCH AND RCOLY AND USAID
ROME FOR SPANOS
ABIDJAN FOR CDC
C O R R E C T E D COPY (PASSING LINES CHANGED)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR TBIO KFLU BN
SUBJECT: H5N1 UPDATE 1: GOB MEETS WITH DONORS
REF: (A) COTONOU 950 (B) COTONOU 948 (C) COTONOU 932
1. Summary: The GOB met with donor representatives on December 19 to
review the GOB's avian influenza action plan. The plan, which
covers the next six months, now assumes that there will be 8
outbreaks. The GOB asked the donors to prepare their contributions
before the GOB makes a decision on its contribution. Donors
insisted the GOB begin providing compensation to farmers who lose
their poultry to culling. The GOB reported another AI outbreak,
confirmed by front line tests, in Akpro-Misserete on December 18.
End Summary.
2. The meeting between the GOB and donors was attended by Roger
Dovonou, the GOB's Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of
Health Kssil Tchalla as well as key officials from each Ministry
including the Director of Livestock and the National Director of
Health. On the donors' side, representatives from UNICEF, WHO, FAO,
UNDP and USAID attended the meeting.
3. The GOB's contingency plan to contain AI outbreaks during the
next six months was presented. The plan covers four key points with
the following budget needs identified: a) the animal health
($1,620,000); b) human health ($83,000); c) communication
($112,000); and d) coordination ($75,000); for a total of
$1,883,000. The donors who have announced their contribution are:
African Development Bank: $128,000; FAO: $62,000 and UNICEF:
$67,000. After these contributions the remaining funding gap for the
AI contingency plan is $1.4 million.
4. The Minister of Health indicated Benin faces a grave crisis
given the impact the AI outbreaks will have on the economy. The
Minister of Agriculture stated that the GOB wanted the donor
community to study the plan and see what they can do to help before
the GOB provides its own contribution. The GOB's veterinary
officials now anticipate a total of eight outbreaks during the next
six months.
5. Donors presented what they have done since last year to assist
the GOB to prepare an appropriate response to potential AI
outbreaks. UNICEF indicated that they will support the
communication plan. WHO and FAO will provide technical assistance.
The USAID representative reminded the GOB of the $70,000 worth of AI
commodities handed-over to the Minister of Agriculture in August
2007 by the Ambassador. He also indicated that USAID may support the
communication plan using expertise and resources under the AED/STOP
AI project based in Dakar, to complement UNICEF's contribution in
this area. He informed the donors and GOB that USDA is currently
shipping test kits to Cotonou. The USAID representative also
indicated the USG might provide sample collection boxes and that CDC
staff based in Abidjan are ready to provide training to veterinary
technicians.
6. Donors insisted on the need to do something to compensate
farmers who will loose hundreds or thousands of birds. The Director
of Livestock mentioned that there is resistance among affected
farmers with regards to culling the birds. The Minister of Health
indicated that culling birds should not be negotiable and the GOB
should be ready to use the army if necessary.
7. Both Ministers will give a press conference sponsored by WHO this
evening. The purpose is to inform the public about what the GOB is
doing and planning to do to contain the AI outbreaks. The Minister
of Health will also provide information on the human side of the AI
outbreaks.
8. Two new AI outbreaks were identified in Akpro-Misserete, a town
in eastern Benin not far from the site of the first outbreak (Ref C)
on December 18. A first line test performed by the GOB was positive
for AI. Additionally, the GOB culled 7,000 birds in Adjarra, the
site of the first outbreak (Ref C),on December 19 and provided
compensation to the farmers of the culled birds.
BROWN