The meeting was organized by USAID and Winrock International and focused on potential HPAI pandemic preparedness.

Taking into consideration the outstanding importance of communication canals and preparedness planning not only during the outbreaks of the pandemic, but during the suspicious cases, the experts discussed the ministries’ internal and external communication, and regional countries’ veterinarian and health services collaboration. The also discuss the possible outbreaks or suspicious cases’ preparedness and horizontal communication between the people involved in the outbreaks and governmental bodies responsible for the fight against pandemic.

The experts also exchanged their opinions on the international donors’ HPAI programs and learned information about recently launched Stamp Out Pandemic and Avian Influenza (STOP AI) program.

Participants came to common conclusion regarding current necessity to enhance the communication and collaboration to confront the challenge of preparing for a potential HPAI pandemic, and took a commitment to inform the higher echelons. The meeting was held under the USAID and Kazakhstan State Inspection Committee partnership with the Kazakh National Agriculture University support.