Danida Gives Massive Support to Combat Spread of Avian Flu in Vietnam

Denmark has responded quickly to assist Vietnam in preventing a national disaster caused by Avian Influenza. Since 2003 Denmark has allocated US$2 million in direct support to the Vietnamese authorities.

Due to its close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through the Danish funded Agriculture Sector Programme Support, Denmark has been able to swiftly reallocate money earmarked for long-term poultry development into short-term disaster prevention. The Danish support is appreciated by the millions of small scale farmers whose livelihood is severely affected by this devastating poultry disease. For the farming families’ direct threat to human lives is – at present – secondary to the indirect threat to their livelihood.

The total collapse of the poultry market - the inability to sell any poultry or poultry products - causes severe losses for almost every farming family in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese authorities have allocated several hundred million dollars and mobilized more than 100,000 people to combat Avian Influenza. The first priority for the authorities is to try to avoid that the disease develops/mutates into a human to human transmittable strain that could potentially cause a disaster of global scale. The burden is heavy on the national economy and at present the Government has difficulties in finding the resources to help the affected farming families. 

In this emergency situation we must not forget the commitment to long-term reestablishment of this vital and very poverty focused sector in the rural economy.

Denmark has been able to react promptly and has together with the Ministry of Agriculture been able immediately to channel the support to the end users. In February 2004 a few months after the first outbreak, the first provinces in Vietnam received vital equipment for confining the outbreaks and protective clothing to the frontline veterinary workers carrying out the horrendous job of killing and destroying millions of chicken and ducks. Since then additional support was given twice in 2004 (in May and December) including more provinces in outbreak areas and involving bigger and bigger donations. All in all US$300,000 was given in 2004.

In the beginning of 2005 an additional contribution of US$500,000 was given by Denmark to combat Avian Influenza. The first 200,000 was used to increase the communication ability within the 18 high risk provinces and to boost provincial preparedness by providing vital equipment.

The remaining 300,000 was used to support the preparedness for the national vaccination campaign that started in October 2005 with vaccination and disinfection equipment as well as protective clothing for frontline workers in 49 provinces throughout the country.

 

Recently Denmark has decided to allocate additionally US$1 million in 2005 to support the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in controlling the current outbreak and launching a nationwide information campaign aimed at changing attitudes and behavior among producers, traders and consumers to boost bio-safety all the way from stable to table.