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ADB Signs Agreement with WHO, Focuses on Longer-Term SARS and Other Health Issues

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (18 June 2003) - Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Tadao Chino today formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the World Health Organization (WHO) to

President Chino with members of ADB's SARS crisis response team - (l-r) Clay Wescott, Elsie Araneta and Geert van der Linden

cooperate in the fight against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and other emerging diseases. At the same time, ADB said it was focusing on longer-term issues of the outbreak.

The MOU, which had earlier been signed by Dr. Gro Brundtland, Director-General of the Geneva-based WHO, formalized a partnership that was formed soon after the SARS outbreak, with ADB providing finance and WHO the technical expertise.

Meanwhile, with WHO reporting that SARS is on the wane in Asia and other parts of the world, ADB is "concentrating assistance on the longer-term issues of surveillance and prevention, both to prevent a flare-up of SARS and to be better prepared against similar epidemics in the future," said Geert van der Linden, ADB's Special Advisor to the President, who is coordinating ADB's anti-SARS efforts.

ADB has already fully allocated its emergency support to fight the outbreak. In response to proposals received to enhance surveillance and infection control, ADB said it will support programs in 14 countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Nepal, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, and Viet Nam.

In addition, ADB will support a regional proposal for Pacific island countries from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

In late May, ADB approved a US$2 million regional technical assistance (RETA) grant to provide regional support to prevent and contain SARS by financing the vital first steps in a medium- to long-term effort to boost health systems. Many governments and health systems in Asia and the Pacific face tight budgets and slow resource mobilization and are ill prepared to deal with SARS.

"Because of the rapid responses of our member countries, SARS is on the wane. However, SARS could die down and then flare up again as the seasons change, so it is crucial that countries remain vigilant," says Clay Wescott, ADB's Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist.

"To ensure adequate financing is in place, we are seeking additional funds from donor capitals, while encouraging borrowing countries to reallocate loan funds for SARS work.

"Much of ADB's assistance is going towards improving the capacity of health officials to anticipate, mitigate and control potential epidemics of communicable diseases, including SARS.

As well as partnering WHO, ADB is working closely with the World Bank, NGOs and other development partners.

ADB's SARS-related assistance is part of a comprehensive action plan prepared by its SARS crisis response team.

More at adb.org/media

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