AUC and FAO sign a memorandum of understanding on AH7N9

Addis Ababa- 12 July 2013- African Union Commission (AUC) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) yesterday 11 July signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation Programme Assistance to Surveillance and Early Response to Avian Influenza AH7N9 Threats in Africa.
The signing ceremony was held in the presence of H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the AUC and Dr. Modibo Traore, FAO representative to AU, UNECA, Ethiopia and FAO Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa who signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.

During the signing ceremony, Commissioner Tumusiime expressed the AUC’s appreciation for the partnership with FAO and also the capacity support to AU Member States in the implementation of various development programmes including the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) just signed.

“When we work together we do make a difference,” she said while expressing the hope that this collaboration would continue to grow from strength to strength.

Dr. Modibo reaffirmed the commitment of FAO to support the AUC and specifically the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture as well as its relevant specialized technical offices, particularly the Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in coordinating the programme to Surveillance and Early Response to Avian Influenza AH7N9 Threats in Africa.

He observed that so far there was no indication that this virus had affected Africa and expressed the hope that this concerted action would keep Africa vigilant and free from the virus.

The concern about the new influenza AH7N9 virus in human beings was declared in China since mid February 2013. The priority activities under this TCP will be initially carried out targeting at-risk countries including those previously infested with bird flu (HPAI), notably Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon and those having close trade ties and flight connections with China particularly, Kenya, Zambia, DRC, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Senegal.