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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

UNICEF approves €600,000 to Serbia for fight against avian flu

Belgrade, 12 April 2006

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and President of the government’s coordinating body for suppression and elimination of avian flu Miroljub Labus said that at the donors’ conference held today Serbia got aid worth €600,000 through UNICEF for the fight against avian flu.

From left: Tomica Milosavljevic, Miroljub Labus and Ivana Dulic-Markovic

Author: Tanjug

Labus told a press conference that Serbia needs €28.5 million to implement all the necessary measures in the fight against the bird flu, one half of which amount comes from the budget while the rest is expected in donations.

He said that not a single country in the world knows how far to go in prevention measures, and in case the virus mutates the funds needed would be much larger. He recalled that on an international level, a month ago, funds worth $2 billion in donations were collected and 141 countries will share this sum.

Labus said that at today’s donors' conference representatives of the Serbian government told representatives of international organisations and institutions what they expect from that aid. He added that Serbia so far has spent €4.5 million in the fight against the bird flu, of which 1.2 million was spent through the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, and 3.3 million through the Serbian Ministry of Health.

Labus said that the funds approved today by UNICEF will be invested in better communication with citizens, and above all in informing school going children on what to do if the danger from bird flu arises.

He said this is extremely important considering that on the world level the bird flu has mostly affected the young population. He presented the fact that 75% of those affected in the world are younger than 35.

Labus said that at the donors’ conference representatives of international organisations estimated that the system of fight against the bird flu in Serbia is well organised and effective.

Serbian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and member of the coordinating body for suppression and elimination of avian flu Ivana Dulic-Markovic said that competent services in the country are on high alert at the moment because the migration of birds goes on during April, thus the process of monitoring is continuing as well as the ban on keeping poultry and fowl in open spaces.

She said that on behalf of the Ministry she suggested that money be secured for educating farmers and veterinarians on bird flu, promoting diagnostics techniques in laboratories, investing in the equipment for putting birds to sleep, as well as that a fund be set up for paying compensations to farmers who suffered losses and thus prevent possible covering of the disease cases.

Minister of Health and member of the coordinating body Tomica Milosavljevic said that in addition to what has already been done, this Ministry plans to finance further purchase of anti-virus medicines and protection equipment.

He said that it is necessary to invest €1.4 million in information technologies and improvement of communication with citizens.

The meeting, which was held at the Palace of Federation of Serbia-Montenegro, was attended by representatives of institutions from 11 countries, as well as representatives of the World Bank, the UN and the World Health Organisation.