Africa's Mobilisation Against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: African Union Presentation

This African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU IBAR) presentation was made at the Avian Influenza (AI) Emergency Preparedness and Response meeting held on November 7-9 2005 Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting included members of the sponsoring organisations, country representatives, donor partners, and regional organisations involved in the avian influenza (avian flu or bird flu) issue.

The presentation outlines the mandate of the technical office of the African Union with regard to AI and discusses the risk of bird flu in Africa. It looks at the continent's needs and appeals to partners for help regarding a range of issues including information and communication for early warning. It states Africa’s urgent needs are to:

• create awareness;
• train field and lab staff;
• establish a regional task force; and
• establish emergency funds;

The continent’s needs at national level include:

• information/communication for early warning;
• training of personnel (field and laboratory);
• equipments and reagents; and
• provision of vaccines.

The continent’s needs at regional level include:

• information sharing;
• re-enforcement of co-ordination and monitoring capacities of AU/IBAR;
• co-ordination of meetings;
• emergency funds and vaccines stocks;
• quality control of vaccines; and
• establishment of regional reference labs.