SARS

ADB Assistance

In close collaboration with the World Health Organization, ADB rapidly reacted with a series of initiatives to help developing member countries control SARS.

• A Memorandum of Understanding between WHO and ADB was signed on 18 June 2003 by ADB’s President and WHO Director General outlining areas for cooperation and coordination on SARS and emerging diseases.
• An advisory technical assistance grant of $2 million was provided to the People's Republic of China for strengthening surveillance of disease outbreaks, emergency response systems, and an information-education campaign, focusing on the western region of PRC.
• A regional grant of $2 million allowed for ADB's other developing member countries to apply for funds to strengthen national capacity for surveillance and control of SARS and other emerging communicable diseases.
• Subsequently, $3 million in additional funding from the Japan Special Fund was used to establish a regional “disease outbreak response team” comprising four long-term consultants based at WHO's Western Pacific Regional Office in Manila.
• In December 2003, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between ADB and the International Cooperation and Development Fund (Taipei,China), which made available an additional $500,000 equivalent for regional capacity building in disease surveillance and response preparedness in June 2004.