In addressing the global concern on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, ASEAN in 2004 has established the ASEAN HPAI Taskforce. It was tasked to coordinate cooperation in the control and eradicate HPAI in ASEAN by providing strategic direction and actions to improve program implementations at country level as well as to encourage collaborative arrangements at regional level, with reference to eight main strategic areas: 1) Disease surveillance; 2) Containment measures; 3) Stamping out and Vaccination Policy; 4) Diagnostic capacity; 5) Establishment of disease free zones/compartments; 6)Information sharing; 7) Emergency Preparedness plans; and 8) Public awareness and communication.

In implementing these areas, ASEAN HPAI Taskforce was supported by the Asian Development Bank through an agreement signed in 2006 on Strengthening the ASEAN Secretariat’s Capacity for Regional Coordination in the Control and Eradication of HPAI in ASEAN. The cooperation was divided into two phases. The first phase took place during the period of 2006-2008 and the second phase is now starting.

In implementing the first phase program, the HPAI Taskforce was able to implement its eight mandates and developed the new ASEAN Regional Strategy for the Control and Eradication of HPAI in ASEAN (2008-2010). ASEAN has also brought forward cooperation and collaboration with other related partners such as OIE, FAO, WHO, ADB, AusAID, USAID, EC, CIDA and others.

Considering what have been achieved and further development of Avian Influenza cases and policies as well as global development of One world, One Health, the ASEAN HPAI Taskforce affirmed that it was important to map out the action plan or roadmap. This framework should be compatible with the new ASEAN Regional Strategy for the Progressive Control and Eradication of HPAI (2008-2010). The second phase of this project is designed to develop and endorse the expected roadmap by considering information and knowledge gained from the previous phase. There are three components to be achieved: 1) Best-Practice Integration and Knowledge Management; 2) Development of Work Plans, Mechanisms and Regional Coordination; and 3) HPAI Control and Eradication Roadmap.

In view of advancing the implementation and realization of these goals, an inception workshop is proposed to be convened on 3-5 March 2010 to discuss in more detail specific work plan and mechanism with which ASEAN, HPAI Taskforce, Development Partners and other stakeholders, can implement these identified areas of cooperation.

AIM, OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED OUTPUTS

The aim of the ASEAN-ADB Inception Workshop to Control and Eradicate HPAI in ASEAN is to provide a consultative and collaborative platform for the HPAI Taskforce, ASEAN Member States and dialogue partners to address HPAI issues. This will be attained through the exchanges of knowledge and experiences in HPAI control, facilitating the integration of GF-TADS activities as well as clarifying TADs in broader context of One World, One Health Concept within the ASEAN Mechanism.

To this end, the objectives of this meeting are:

1. To share and update information on status of the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Strategy for the Progressive Control and Eradication of HPAI in ASEAN (2008-2010) among relevant stakeholders i.e. ASEAN HPAI Taskforce and Dialogue Partners.

2. To review and share experiences among AMSs and relevant dialogue partners in the control and eradication of HPAI in their working areas with reference to the Regional Strategy’s eight strategic areas.

3. To further identify the expected outputs, activities and participating organizations in relation to the formulation of the detailed work plan (s), mechanisms and arrangements in implementing the New Regional Strategy.

4. To discuss on HPAI Taskforce’s inputs for the ASEAN Study on Regional Coordination for Animal Diseases and Zoonoses.

PARTICIPANTS

The ASEAN-ADB Inception meeting will be organized by the ASEAN Secretariat with support from Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Two representatives from each ASEAN Member States who are members of HPAI Task Force and an expert in TADs will be invited to share experiences in the control and eradication of HPAI in their respective countries. One representative from related dialogue partners will be invited to share experiences as well as to explore the possibility of broader cooperation. Representatives from ADB will also be invited to present their perspective on the project. The ASEAN secretariat will serve as the organizer of this meeting.

Below is the list of participants:

r      AMS Focal Points to the ASEAN HPAI Taskforce

r      Representatives from the ASEAN Health Sector (e.g. Chairman of the ASEAN Expert Group on Communicable Diseases and focal points per AMS)

r      Major Regional Stakeholders and Partners: OIE, FAO, WHO, ADB, AusAID, USAID, EC, CIDA and others

r      ASEAN Secretariat

r      Representatives from ASEAN Dialogue Partners – Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand

CONTACT DETAIL

Further information on the meeting, please contact:

Dr. Solomon Benigno

Project Manager/ Animal Health Expert

ASEAN-ADB HPAI Project

Email: solomon.benigno@asean.org

Ms. Rahmi Kasri

Technical Officer

ASEAN-ADB HPAI Project

Email: rahmi.kasri@asean.org