Feature article

World Health Day | by Joanna McLeod

Feature article No. 4 | 4 April 2007

NZAID has aligned its response with PNG's National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS 2004-2008.

World Health Day on 7 April marks the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO). It is an occasion to raise awareness of key global health issues. This year's theme is international health security. The aim of the Day is to urge governments, organizations and businesses to "Invest in health, build a safer future".

Improving the health status of those living in poverty is a cornerstone of NZAID's commitment to achieving a safe and just world free of poverty. It has been well established that better health reduces poverty and reduced poverty improves health. By focusing on improved health outcomes through approaches that strengthen local leadership, self-determination and capacity in health sector development, NZAID is working towards the realisation of its goals. Our work includes steps to prevent global pandemics, and initiatives to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Preventing global pandemics

Viet Nam received praise from the international community for its prompt and thorough response to outbreaks of avian influenza in recent years. However the threat of a worldwide flu pandemic is still present.

Human infections are limited to those which have resulted from direct contact with infected birds or poultry. While none have occurred in Viet Nam since November 2005, there is an ongoing risk that if the virus mutates, then person-to-person infection could result in the deaths of millions of people.

By focusing on improved health outcomes through approaches that strengthen local leadership, self-determination and capacity in health sector development, 8 May, 2007

Key priorities of the Vietnamese government are to continue strengthening surveillance of birds to ensure that they are all vaccinated and to conduct investigations into the likely causes of the virus - gathering as much information as possible to help prevent further outbreaks.

Since 2004, NZAID has been helping Viet Nam to combat and control outbreaks of Avian Influenza. Initial funding through Care International in Viet Nam provided emergency equipment to the veterinary services in Binh Dinh province and a subsequent initiative to strengthen training, outreach and prevention services in Binh Dinh and Long An Provinces.

In December 2005, NZAID provided disinfectants, protective clothing and biosafety cabinets for use by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in a very successful campaign to control the spread of the disease.

NZAID is contributing $450,000 to the second phase of a Joint Programme on Avian Influenza implemented by the Vietnamese government and the United Nations and is providing staff of the Department of Animal Health with post-graduate scholarships in veterinary epidemiology at Massey University.

Curbing the spread of HIV/AIDs

HIV/AIDS is one of the greatest threats to the economic and social development, stability and security of developing countries. HIV/AIDS kills people in their most productive years, lowering labour productivity, threatening food security, reversing progress in education, undermining economic growth and increasing poverty.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is the hardest-hit Pacific country, with an estimated 100,000 people are infected with HIV/AIDS. And the outlook is not good. It has been predicted that an epidemic of similar proportions to that seen in Sub-Saharan Africa could be seen.

NZAID is committed to raising awareness about the disease among the general population and to eliminating the stigma of HIV/AIDS. NZAID is supporting a major contraceptive social marketing campaign, which aims to improve condom sales and distribution in order to help reduce the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. This project is being implemented by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Contact: communications@nzaid.govt.nz