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US embassy donates USD 54,000 kits to curb...
2008-04-30 09:22:39
By Hafsa Massati
The United States embassy has donated 4500 personal protection kits and 40 decontamination kits worth USD 53,735.
Speaking at the launch of an action plan for caution and prevention of avian flu in the country in Dar es Salaam on Monday, US embassy representative and country director of the US Centres for Disease Control Dr. Stefan Wicktor said the kits were part of the plan to prevent bird flu.
Among donations that Wicktor mentioned are laboratory equipment for humans and animals, training of personnel and support for surveillance activities in animals and humans.
Wicktor said the disease was a ticking bomb due to people succumbing to it in some countries.
He said Tanzania had to be prepared to confront and respond quickly and effectively.
``The US government, through its Centres for Disease Control, is collaborating closely with the government through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries to make sure the disease is prevented,`` Wicktor said.
He said CDC has also collaborated with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to build a special laboratory to test avian influenza, saying although it was now operational it would be officially launched in June.
UNICEF representative Heimo Laakkonen said the UN was committed in providing technical assistance to ensure the disease dids not affect Tanzania as it had affected other countries.
Apart from technical assistance, Laakkonen said the UN was also funding public awareness campaigns.
``The disease is a challenge, especially to large and small-scale poultry farmers, this is why creating awareness to the public is very crucial,`` he said.
Theme of the action plan for caution and prevention of avian influenza is `Report when you notice bird flu symptoms. Together we can prevent the disease`.
According to the World Organization for Animal Health, avian influenza started in Hong Kong in 1997 and spread over 60 countries including 11 countries in Africa.
East African countries face the threat and it is now reported to be in Juba, South of Sudan, which borders Uganda and Kenya.
Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda officially launched the action plan.
The ceremony was attended by representatives from the UN system, US embassy and other government officials.
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