World Bank fasttracks $500 mln to prepare for pandemic flu

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World Bank chalks out $500 mln to help countries better prepare for pandemic

flu, June 03, 2009

The World Bank Tuesday approved " fast-track " status for 500 million U.S. dollars

to help countries finance emergency operations to prevent and control outbreaks

of the A/H1N1 flu.

The money will top up an existing 500 million dollar credit line -- the Global

Program for Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response

(GPAI) -- set up in January 2006 to minimize the threat posed to people by the

highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1, especially in the poorest

countries.

Fifty-seven countries used the GPAI to finance avian influenza control and human

pandemic preparedness operations with a total commitment value of 421 million

dollars.

" The Bank's decision today will expand the GPAI to allow the Bank to

'fast-track' emergency A/H1N1 financing to low, and middle-income countries to

buy drugs, medical equipment and supplies, to pay for hospital care and public

information campaigns, to strengthen human and livestock health surveillance,

and help to blunt the economic and social costs associated with pandemic flu, "

said the World Bank in a statement.

" This is a particularly bad time for a pandemic to occur given that developing

countries are more vulnerable now because of the compounded effects of the food,

fuel and financial crises, " said Jeff Gutman, the World Bank's Vice President

for Operations.

" The worst-case scenarios for pandemic flu point to a significant economic

impact, with poor people in developing countries likely to be hit hardest, " he

warned. " In light of the uncertainties surrounding the future spread and

severity of flu outbreaks, we feel that it is important to provide countries

with rapid support to respond to pandemic threats, and to build up their

capacity to prevent and control zoonotic diseases. "

The World Bank recently mobilized more than 205 million dollars in " fast-track "

funds to Mexico to help it fight the spread of the influenza A/H1N1 with 25

million dollars for drugs and supplies and another 180 million dollars for

disease surveillance, laboratory testing, and other operational activities.

Gutman noted the World Bank will also provide countries with the latest evidence

and lessons learned from previous emergency responses such as the Severe Acute

Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), avian influenza, and post-disaster reconstruction

after the 2004 Asian tsunami, to help them with their pandemic flu contingency

plans, while also working to strengthen their human and animal health systems.

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Source:Xinhua