VZCZCXRO1800
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHYD #1065/01 2400901
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280901Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8091
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 001065 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AIAG 
ACCRA FOR USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLU TBIO EAGR SENV AMED CASC KSCA CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON AVIAN INFLUENZA UPDATE: DESPITE 
IMPROVEMENT, GOV'T PREPAREDNESS WANTING 
 
REF: YAOUNDE 608 
 
MARKED PARAGRAPHS ARE SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED (SBU).  NOT 
FOR DISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE THE USG. 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  Summary.  The Government of Cameroon's 
interministerial committee (CIM, French acronym) for avian 
influenza (AI) is better poised to respond to an AI outbreak 
than it was last year, due to substantial training and 
assistance from USAID, NAMRU-3 (reftel), CDC, APHIS and 
others, including assistance from the EU and China.  The 
government (GRC) now has an approved quarterly work plan to 
disburse funds and a guidebook for the work planning process 
following UNDP operating procedures.  The EU-funded PACE 
surveillance program is shutting down, however, and the GRC 
appears more focused on pursuing funding than on providing an 
effective response capability.  Despite these extensive 
preparations and some improvements, the GRC does not appear 
sufficiently prepared and well-positioned to respond 
effectively to an emergency outbreak.  End summary. 
 
--------------- 
Recent Progress 
--------------- 
 
¶2.  (U)  Poloff attended the CIM steering committee meeting 
at the Prime Minister's office on July 26 and later met 
separately with Steve Nakashima (the AI coordinator for the 
UNDP's AI Common Fund) to discuss current funding and 
progress of AI-related activities.  EU representative 
Philippe Jacques also attended the CIM meeting.  There is now 
an approved quarterly work plan that allows disbursement of 
funds to ministries, and the GRC has approved a guidebook for 
the work planning process following UNDP operating 
procedures.  In addition, a number of positive steps have 
improved the GRC's response capability.  MINSANTE (the Public 
Health Ministry) has completed its training program at the 
provincial level, and MINEPIA (the Veterinary Ministry) has 
completed training in the South, Southwest, North and Extreme 
North provinces.  A Cameroonian team also attended a CDC 
workshop in Dakar.  UNDP conducted a journalism workshop in 
February with some materials from UNICEF, and the GRC's 
AI-specific communications unit has upgraded its technology 
and is developing a website.  However, a planned GPS outbreak 
mapping project never materialized.  Following a summer 
hiatus, Nakashima is planning to resume coordination with 
USAID of training and shipment of commodities in the coming 
months. 
 
-------------- 
Funding Issues 
-------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  Although there is a national plan of action in 
place, it is in need of revision.  Additionally, the 
EU-funded PACE surveillance program is in the process of 
shutting down.  Although the GRC would like to see the 
program continue, it does not want to fund it.  According to 
Nakashima, the CIM president is unhappy with the lack of 
government support, and will pursue this matter in another 
technical secretariat meeting.  Although the funding issue 
should have been addressed in 2006, according to Nakashima, 
the GRC was counting on an AI outbreak that would trigger a 
fresh inpouring of international assistance.  Disagreements 
persist over funding, according to Nakashima.  The CIM 
submitted budget requests that could cover all epizootic 
disease activities rather than those activities specific to 
AI, he said.  Although the GRC was expected to pick up the 
operating cost of the PACE program after four years, it is 
now asking the Common Fund to pick up the entire operating 
cost.  Nakashima is concerned that once Common Fund monies 
are disbursed, the GRC will simply request additional money 
rather than covering expenses from its own budget. 
 
---------------------------------- 
Comment: Despite Some Improvements 
Ability to Respond Remains Limited 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Although the GRC is in better shape now than it was 
previously, due to substantial training and assistance from 
USAID, NAMRU-3 (reftel), CDC, APHIS and others, including 
assistance from the EU and China, it has a tendency to view 
international AI funding as an entitlement to bankroll 
government programs, rather than as emergency assistance. 
Furthermore, despite a preoccupation with protocol, the GRC 
 
YAOUNDE 00001065  002 OF 002 
 
 
struggles to fulfill routine administrative requirements, 
such as the submission of detailed assistance requests and 
timely reporting documents needed for the disbursement of 
funds.  While considerable training has been completed, an 
effective plan of action does not yet exist.  Despite these 
extensive preparations and some improvements, the GRC does 
not appear sufficiently prepared and well-positioned to 
respond effectively to an emergency outbreak.  End Comment. 
NELSON