April 12, 2006

World bank provides US$200,000 to combat bird flu in Indonesia

The World Bank is providing a US$200,000 grant for the National Commission of Bird Flu Eradication in Indonesia.

The World Bank, the United Nations and other donor institutions, in cooperation with Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Peoples Welfare, would support the implementation of the national strategy on combating avian influenza, World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz said.

In addition to the grant, the World Bank also allocated a fund valued at US$130,000 for a study on poultry husbandry and marketing system restructurisation and another US$15 million for monitoring of bird flu viruses affecting poultry and people.

The World Bank's Health Department in Jakarta, Peter Haywood said that when the Indonesian Government has completed its assessment on its needs in combating bird flu, the World Bank would follow it up by handing over assistance.

He added that the Indonesian government must closely monitor bird flu-infected areas and control its spread.

Indonesia recently announced it did not have enough money to purchase enough vaccines for its flock of poultry. It has only enough money to vaccinate one fifth of the poultry and appealed to the private sector to contribute to its vaccination fund.