China's Role in Tackling Avian Influenza Discussed With Senior UN Officials

China's Role in Tackling Avian Influenza Discussed With Senior UN Officials

April 04, 2006

    BEIJING, April 4 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- UN System
Coordinator for Influenza Dr. David Nabarro visited Beijing
to discuss China's role in the international control of
avian influenza and preparation for dealing with any
possible influenza pandemic.  Dr. David Nabarro commends
the Chinese Government for what it has done domestically to
contain the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and
also China's significant contribution to the world campaign
against HPAI. 

    During his two days visit, Dr. Nabarro, Dr. Khalid
Malik, UN Resident Coordinator in China and representatives
from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World
Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, met with the Vice
Premier Hui Liangyu, who leads China's Avian Influenza
Command Centre.  The meeting with the Vice Premier focused
on the important role that China is playing in the global
battle against avian influenza and on ways to strengthen
further China's participation in regional and international
technical and political partnerships.

    Dr. Nabarro also met with senior leaders in the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the
Ministry of Agriculture to discuss China's involvement in
the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic
Influenza (IPAPI) and the upcoming meeting of IPAPI to be
held in Vienna in June 2006.  China's willingness to assist
other affected countries in the fight against avian
influenza and preparedness for possible human pandemic were
also discussed.

    Dr. David Nabarro recognized that the Chinese
Government attaches great importance to the prevention and
control of HPAI.  China has adopted national strategies and
taken a series of measures.  Great progress was achieved in
preventing and containing HPAI.  In this way, China has
contributed to the international effort against HPAI as
well.

    The UN in China has been actively engaged in assisting
China since the country first officially reported influenza
A H5N1 in 2004.  Coordination between UN agencies has
recently been strengthened under the leadership of UN
Resident Coordinator through the appointment of a UN Avian
and Pandemic Influenza Coordinator and the development of a
number of joint working groups.  A joint UN/Government of PR
China Avian and Pandemic Influenza Programme is currently
being discussed with the government.  Such a programme is
likely to involve a large number of UN agencies as well as
a range of government ministries and agencies.

    Since early 2004, the Food and Agriculture Organization
and World Health Organization have provided technical
assistance in the prevention, detection and control of
avian and human influenza A (H5N1) and are working closely
with Ministries of Agriculture and Health in China.  UNICEF
is leading a cross UN team effort to develop public
education materials to raise awareness about avian
influenza and reduce risks of animal to human transmission
of the virus.  A number of different agencies, including
WHO and UNDP, are providing support to the government to
strengthen pandemic preparedness as well as to develop long
term strategies to reduce the risk of animal related
diseases such of avian influenza in the future.

    Many challenges remain particularly at grassroots
level, at the same time, much have been achieved in
responding to the influenza threat.  The government
expressed appreciation to the UN for its assistance and
collaboration in the prevention and control of avian and
human influenza (H5N1) and preparation for any possible
influenza pandemic.  The Government of China and the UN
look forward to continued collaboration and cooperation in
the future -- in China and in the international arena.

    For more information, please contact:

     Zhang Wei
     Communications Officer
     Tel:   [phone]
     Fax:   [phone]

SOURCE  United Nations Development Programme