DUSHANBE , April 27, Asia-Plus - The World Bank intends to provide a grant of US$5 million to Tajikistan for preventing spread of bird flu.  

According to information fro the Ministry of Health, Mr. Eustacius Beutbiza, head of the World Bank mission on bird flu, told this in Dushanbe at a meeting with Ziyovuddin Avghonov, Deputy Health Minister.

This grant will be distributed among the ministries of health and agriculture as well as other relevant organizations, the Health Ministry source said.  

The World Bank mission on bird flu that arrived in Tajikistan on April 22 is comprised of some 20 specialists from the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank (WB) and UNICEF.  The overall objective of this mission is to carry out preparatory work for the proposed Tajikistan Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project.  Specialists of the mission are also closely liaising with local Government representatives, donors, project representatives, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders.  The World Bank mission will conduct an assessment of the activities that were and are implemented towards prevention of an Avian Influenza outbreak.

The WB Dushanbe Office source says that based on the assessments and consultations with the Government, the mission will compile the project to complement the activities undertaken by the Government.