USAID Provides $3.6 Million to Extend Influenza Aid in Vietnam

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

HANOI, September 23, 2009 – The United States will support Vietnam’s efforts to combat avian and pandemic influenza with a three-year project.  Funding during the first year will be $3.6 million.    

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has selected Abt Associates to carry out the project in close cooperation with the Vietnamese government.  By building on the experiences and lessons learned from programs carried out over the last three years, this nationwide project will identify and spread best practices and enhanced surveillance techniques to control and prevent avian and other forms of influenza.  USAID activities in Vietnam, including joint cross border pandemic exercises with China and Laos, support to develop and improve provincial pandemic preparedness plans, training of animal health workers and veterinarians, public communication campaigns, and journalist training in H1N1 prevention and control measures.

The project will continue to work in five focus provinces (Can Tho, Ha Nam, Hung Yen, Kien Giang, and Quang Tri) as the base for testing and applying risk reduction practices in local settings.  Other provinces will be included as appropriate and feasible.  Working particularly at the local level with health, agriculture, and rural development officials, activities will include public communication campaigns and training for animal and human health workers to help them and their communities monitor, prevent and control avian and pandemic influenza.  The project will also encourage additional villages to take special measures to reduce the risk and spread of disease, especially in provinces at high risk of avian influenza.

Pending continued availability of funding, the USAID plans to continue the activity for two additional years, bringing the total contribution to $10 million.  Since 2005, the U.S. Government has allocated approximately $50 million to support Vietnam's programs to combat avian and pandemic influenza.

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