India committed to share experience in controlling "Avian Flu"
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Dec 5, IRNA
India-Avial Flu-PM
India is committed to share the experience of control and containment of the outbreak of influenza in poultry, said Dr. Manmohan Singh here today.
Spaking at a three-day International Ministerial Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, Indian Prime Minister said that focused governmental intervention must go hand-in-hand with community empowerment in addressing such health care challenges.
He said Avian Influenza, like all pandemics, is a global threat and we must all work together to find a global solution. Each Government will have to act locally, but think globally while dealing with the problem.
He said, "We should guard against institutional fatigue in dealing with such pandemics and never lower our guard."
Singh said that our Road Map for 2008 would be shared at the Conference. Through our Road Map 2008 we endeavor to suggest action points, which are deliverable and achievable in the next one year.
India commits itself to adhere to the roadmap, he added. He hoped that the Conference will find it a useful reference for future programmes.
Addressing the international conference Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said that empowerment of the community was emerging as the most powerful tool in preparing for the pandemic and all countries and the organizations need to focus on this aspect.
The World Bank has projected that for preparedness for avian and human influenza, developing countries would need to spend minimum $ 2.2 billion over a two to three year period, while international organizations would require $ 325 million to support the activities.
The current gap for mobilizing resources for country programs is about $ 960 million or more than 40 per cent of identified needs.
Top health and veterinary scientists, policy-makers and ministers from 105 nations and 20 international and intergovernmental organizations have applauded India's phenomenal effort in dealing with crisis during two separate outbreaks in 2006 and 2007.
In his welcome address, Sharad Pawar, Minister of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said that controlling Avian Influenza remains an enormous challenge particularly for the administration and the veterinary and medical communities.
"It has spread to new countries, continents and eco-systems.
Therefore. We collectively need to assess the current situation; the effectiveness of the strategies applied and revisit our policies," he said.
More than 600 delegates from 105 countries and 20 international and inter-governmental organizations are participating in the three-day annual conference which began here Tuesday.
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