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Development Resources and Disaster Assistance: Cambodia
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Trip Report: Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos
February 27–March 28, 2006
Avian Influenza, Wild Bird Surveillance
Workshop
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
February 27–March 14, 2006
This workshop was an instrumental first step to getting WPO
and DAHP agencies working together. These two divisions of MAFF cover the
entire country to regulate forestry and animal health concerns in Cambodia
with no previous cooperation. An important outcome of the workshop was getting
the two agencies to agree to continue the partnership moving forward.
The workshop covered proper field sample gathering,
diagnostics and important communication plans to report AI suspicion. With
speakers from a wide range of backgrounds, participants had the benefit of
hearing about global mitigation efforts as well as from speakers with more
local expertise. Thus far we have been getting a lot of positive feedback from
the NGO community as they continue to integrate their sampling and education
efforts in the 13 provinces of Cambodia. The workshop offered an important
networking venue for participants who now all have each others contact
information and a better idea of others roles and responsibilities in the
field.
 Goals of workshop: To integrate technical expertise of wild
bird surveillance with a network of Cambodian provincial staff of the Ministry
of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) in hopes of rapid diagnostics and
emergency response to mitigate AI breakouts in Cambodia.
Workshop Technical Speakers/Diagnostic experts:
- USDA/APHIS-Dr. Dale Nolte, Dr. Sheldon Owens, Allen Gosser, Brandon Schmit
- USDOI/USGS- Dr. Hon Sang Ip, Dr. F. Joshua Dein
- FAO- Dr. Vincent Martin (Rome), Kimoto Tsukasa (Phnom Penh)
- Institute of Zoology- Dr. Lei Fu-Min (Beijing)
- Wildlife Conservation Society- Dr. Martin Gilbert (Phnom Penh)
- MAFF- Dr. Sorn San, Holl Davun, Chheang Dany
 Workshop Participants:
32 staff from MAFF Department of Animal Health and Production (DAHP)
including at least two from all 13 provinces in the country.
12 MAFF Wildlife Protection Office (WPO) staff that have jurisdiction
which covers the nation.
5 international NGO staff from- World Wildlife Fund, Conservation
International, Academy for Educational Development and Wildlife Conservation
Society
5 FAO Phnom Penh Based Staff
Staff Observations
An institutional and bureaucratic separation exists between the
animal health and wildlife departments of each country visited. Wild life
infectious diseases are the nexus that should compel them to work together but
institutionally this remains a formidable challenge.
Cambodian and Laotian ministry personnel pay themselves for
work-related communications (e.g., mobile phones, email/internet access) due to
lack of government support. Similarly, personnel clean laboratory supplies
(e.g., needles, tubes, and vials) to extend the use of the supplies.
Establishing any kind of surveillance system will require a level of
practicality and creativity.
 Regionally, Thailand has significantly greater capacity than
most other countries. Concomitantly, their capacity and assistance is sought and
resented. Identified within ASEAN as the lead for avian influenza (AI)
activities, Thailand offers much value for building regional capacity. FAO has
used them successfully for assessments and technical assistance. USDA, in
collaboration with FAO and Thailand could develop strong regional programming,
e.g., study and risk management of migratory birds, national surveillance
policies and protocols for wild and domestic birds. Due to East Asia migratory
bird flyway paths, which intersect with Alaska as the gateway to the Americas,
it is in the interest of the US to support regional activities as a first line
of defense against animal diseases.
FAO has a shortage of management personnel and technical
expertise to manage AI activities. FAO-Laos specifically noted a need for
someone to coordinate AI duties.
Whether due to politeness over coordination, certain inertia
appears to restrain commitment. If the will exists, USDA has the potential to,
using the words of the DCM/Vientiane, mold the AI efforts, and offer a vision
beyond the here and now of AI.
Recommendations
Having established ourselves as active player, USDA should
consider offering a menu of activities to the following countries: Cambodia,
Laos, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, and Burma (as able):
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ACTIVITY |
LOCATION |
FUNDING |
MECHANISM |
TIMEFRAME |
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Technical training/assistance |
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Wild bird surveillance workshop |
In country |
FY06 Supplemental /Global Trust Fund |
Technical assistance thru USDA or Land Grant institutions
intermittent TDYs |
Over a one-year period |
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Wild bird surveillance development of national strategy and
policy |
In country |
FY06 Supplemental /Global Trust Fund |
Technical assistance thru USDA or Land Grant institutions
intermittent TDYs |
Over a one-year period |
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Demonstration/Pilot project |
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Wild bird surveillance |
In country |
FY06 Supplemental /Global Trust Fund |
Technical assistance thru USDA or Land Grant institutions
intermittent TDYs |
Over a one-year period |
|
Wild bird surveillance |
Indonesia |
Singapore, per Tri-lateral meeting, Ned Cardenas |
Technical assistance thru USDA or Land Grant institutions
intermittent TDYs |
Over a one-year period |
Other activities:
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Regional activities |
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Wild bird surveillance: develop regional linkages, related
to GFTADS |
Within the ASEAN region |
FY06 Supplemental /Global Trust Fund |
USDA. ASEAN +3, FAO, Mahidol University, NGOs |
Over a one-year period |
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Surveillance and Risk Assessment in China |
Qinghai and Xinjiang |
FY06 Supplemental /Global Trust Fund |
USDA and Chinese Academy of Sciences |
Over a one-year period |
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