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FG [of Nigeria] to Establish Avian Influenza Research Centre
By Chinyere Okoye, 05.08.2007
Lagos
Health Minister, Professor Eyitayo Lambo, has said the Federal Government is planning to establish an avian influenza research centre.
Lambo, who made this known at the opening of the first African International Symposium on Avian and Pandemic Influenza and Anti-virals, said the centre would collaborate with global research institutions.
He said the collaboration would involve the training of Nigerians on technologies and strategies capable of improving care and support to needy bird flu patients.
Lambo said the symposium was expected to generate ideas on how African countries could be empowered to partake in the global efforts at providing effective remedies to the menace, including ?development of new and effective drugs, vaccines and biological that is affordable to the continent.?
Minister of State for Agriculture and Water Resources, Chief Bamidele Dada, said various measures had been put in place to combat the disease since its outbreak in 2006.
He said in spite of the measures introduced by the government to control the disease, the first quarter of the year witnessed a resurgence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (H5N1).
Dada said more than 183 samples were received by the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) in Vom, near Jos, and 75 of them were positive.
Since the outbreak of HPAI to date, 84 local government areas in 24 states of the federation have been affected by the disease.
?An additional 300,000 birds were culled between January and April 2007, while the total number of birds culled were 1.3 million since the first outbreak of bird flu in Nigeria,? the minister said.
He said government had paid more than N163 million to affected poultry farmers whose birds were culled, while an outstanding N281 million would soon be paid to more than 111 farmers in 13 states.
Dada, therefore, challenged scientists and researchers to discover potent drugs and vaccines that would be affordable and effective for avian influenza and other emerging diseases control.
He reaffirmed government's determination to encourage the scientists and called for their empowerment and collaboration with colleagues globally for effective performance.
The United Nation's Special Envoy on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, Dr David Nabaro, said another influenza could occur any moment as a result of the mutation of the HPAI-H5N1 strain.
Nabaro, who said more than 55 countries had been affected, adding that the need for all stakeholders to work as a global team with the highest level of political commitment.
By Chinyere Okoye, 05.08.2007
Lagos
Health Minister, Professor Eyitayo Lambo, has said the Federal Government is planning to establish an avian influenza research centre.
Lambo, who made this known at the opening of the first African International Symposium on Avian and Pandemic Influenza and Anti-virals, said the centre would collaborate with global research institutions.
He said the collaboration would involve the training of Nigerians on technologies and strategies capable of improving care and support to needy bird flu patients.
Lambo said the symposium was expected to generate ideas on how African countries could be empowered to partake in the global efforts at providing effective remedies to the menace, including ?development of new and effective drugs, vaccines and biological that is affordable to the continent.?
Minister of State for Agriculture and Water Resources, Chief Bamidele Dada, said various measures had been put in place to combat the disease since its outbreak in 2006.
He said in spite of the measures introduced by the government to control the disease, the first quarter of the year witnessed a resurgence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (H5N1).
Dada said more than 183 samples were received by the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) in Vom, near Jos, and 75 of them were positive.
Since the outbreak of HPAI to date, 84 local government areas in 24 states of the federation have been affected by the disease.
?An additional 300,000 birds were culled between January and April 2007, while the total number of birds culled were 1.3 million since the first outbreak of bird flu in Nigeria,? the minister said.
He said government had paid more than N163 million to affected poultry farmers whose birds were culled, while an outstanding N281 million would soon be paid to more than 111 farmers in 13 states.
Dada, therefore, challenged scientists and researchers to discover potent drugs and vaccines that would be affordable and effective for avian influenza and other emerging diseases control.
He reaffirmed government's determination to encourage the scientists and called for their empowerment and collaboration with colleagues globally for effective performance.
The United Nation's Special Envoy on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, Dr David Nabaro, said another influenza could occur any moment as a result of the mutation of the HPAI-H5N1 strain.
Nabaro, who said more than 55 countries had been affected, adding that the need for all stakeholders to work as a global team with the highest level of political commitment.
