M'sia Needs US$213 Mln To Control Avian Influenza, Says Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia needs about US$213 million (US$1=RM3.77) to finance various projects to avoid an outbreak of avian influenza on animals and humans.
Calling for donations for the fund, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said having an effective and attractive compensation and recovery schemes were vital for the success of the measures taken.
He said among the projects were the establishment of a Regional Research and Reference Centre for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) which would be expanded from the Asean Poultry Disease Research and Training Centre at the Veterinary Research Institute in Malaysia.
The plan which was to conduct more intensive research through the provision of additional funds to upgrade the Virology Unit and related facilities would cost US$3.5 million, he said when addressing the Global Donor Pledging on HPAI and Human Pandemic Influenza meeting in Beijing, Wednesday.
The text of his speech was made available to Bernama here.
Muhyiddin noted that while Malaysia was able to offer the facility to training young scientists from the region to conduct research, it needed financial support from international scientists for three years to provide a platform for immediate take-off.
"For this purpose, an estimated amount of US$3 million for remuneration and allowances is required," he said.
In addition, he said, Malaysia required a total of US$1.5 million to support funding for training of 30 young scientists from Asean member countries over a period of three years.
Muhyiddin said Malaysia had also pledged US$200,000 to establish a Regional Coordinating Unit under the Asean Regional Work Plan for the Control and Eradication of HPAI and US$10 million in providing technical expertise for virological surveillance and diagnosis in the region.
He said Malaysia would need a fund totalling US$100 million in operating the containment levels of P3 and P4 laboratories which would assist the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Influenza for the Asean+3 EID Programme.
A total cost of US$94.8 million fund was needed for the preparation of a comprehensive work plan to eradicate the disease in which 14 projects covering eight strategic areas have been circulated to potential donors for possible funding, he said.
Muhyiddin said to facilitate contributions to the fund, the Asean Secretariat had opened an account called the Asean Animal Trust Fund with clear guidelines on the utilisation and accountability of the account.