Bangladeshi government Sunday completed negotiation on a proposed Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response Project (AIPRP) with the International Development Association (IDA), the concessionary arm of the World Bank, Bangladeshi news agency UNB reported.

The program, costing 37 million U.S. dollars, will run for a period of five years, 2007-2012.

Additional Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) M Shaheedul Haque and the World Bank's task team leader Mohinder S. Mudahar led the respective teams during the negotiation, said a press release.

The proposed AIPRP comes at a time when several cases of outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) have been reported in Bangladesh since February this year.

A number of bilateral and multilateral development partners, including the World Bank, have joined hands with Bangladeshi government to cope with the situation.

The proposed Avian Influenza Program consists of two parts -- Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response Project (AIPRP), a new project, and Avian Influenza Component of the Health, Nutrition and Population Sector Program (HNPSP), an ongoing project dealing with human health.

Of the total cost, 16 million dollars will be allocated from the existing HNPSP being funded by the World Bank in the form of IDA credit and pooled grant resources from participating donors.

AIPRP, on the other hand, will cost around 21 million dollars, of which IDA will provide 16 million dollars, Avian Human Influenza Trust grant is expected to cover 3 million dollars and the remaining 2 million dollars to be provided by the government.

The AIPRP will focus on animal health to enhance prevention and preparedness capability. It will also help in improving human pandemic and avian influenza prevention and control planning, including strengthening of disease surveillance, diagnostic capacity and laboratory facilities.

Source: Xinhua