Ghana's Minister for Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Ernest Debrah, has said the country requires US$14million to prevent the avian flu disease from spreading beyond Tema and Sunyani. It is needed to correct the weaknesses of the veterinary infrastructures and operational capacities.
A 6-month Emergency Action Plan for Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza 2005 -2006 has been drafted by the ministry in collaboration with FAO. Debrah said, "It is specifically based on the containment of actual outbreaks and the prevention of new ones through adequate response, strengthening of surveillance measures and increased awareness of all stakeholders."
The minister said the location of the last confirmed avian influenza outbreak at Sunyani is close to Dormaa Ahenkro District, which is one of the most important sites for poultry products in the country. Dormaa Ahenkro has 190 commercial poultry farms with an estimated chicken population of around 1.57 million birds, of which 90% are layers.
In responds to the outbreak, he said the Veterinary Service is conducting active surveillance activities involving sample collection from poultry farmers in the areas surrounding the outbreak farms. Health screening of the people on the affected farms are also being conducted as a precaution. In spite of the economic difficulties, he said the government has mobilized funds so far totaling some 340,327,700 million cedis ($36,000) as compensation to farmers whose poultry or poultry products were destroyed.
The Minister said Ghana is faced with several constraints in implementing the recommended FAO/OIE strategy for HPAI control and eradication which includes : the depopulation of affected farms, cleaning and decontamination, restriction of movement of poultry products, active disease surveillance and compensation of farmers whose birds were culled as part of the HPAI disease control measures.
Accra Mail
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