$100M vs flu pandemic out

The Northern Mariana Islands is set to receive $118,513 that will be used to help the islands prepare for an influenza pandemic.

The funding is part of the $100 million that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is releasing as part of President Bush’s plan to mobilize the nation to ensure state and local preparedness.

U.S. territories and U.S. affiliated states will also receive their share of this funding, broken down as follows:

– Puerto Rico: $1,443,014
– Guam: $139,782
– U.S. Virgin Islands: $126,461
– American Samoa: $114,066
– Federated States of Micronesia: $126,298
– Marshall Islands: $113,722
– Palau: $104,795

“Pandemics happen globally but must be managed at the state and local level, and these funds will help communities meet that responsibility,” HHS Secretary Mike Secretary Leavitt said yesterday. “Preparation works and it can save lives. We have the opportunity to become the first generation in history to prepare for a pandemic.”

This funding is part of $350 million included in the recent emergency appropriation for combating pandemic influenza passed by Congress in December.

This comes in the wake of a Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Regional Strategic Planning Meeting held on Saipan last Wednesday. Participants included representatives from the CNMI, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau, American Samoa, Independent State of Samoa, Fiji School of Medicine, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

The two-day conference was sponsored by the U.S. Office of Insular Affairs and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It was held at the Hyatt Regency Saipan.

INTENSIFIED EFFORTS

The initial grants will be awarded to all 50 states, seven territories, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Each state will receive a minimum of $500,000, with additional allocation of funds by population.

In addition to the state grants, funds are being awarded to New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles County. The remaining $250 million from the appropriation will be awarded later this year in accord with guidance that will require progress and performance.

States and municipalities will use these funds to accelerate and intensify current planning efforts for pandemic influenza and to exercise their plans. The focus is on practical, community-based procedures that could prevent or delay the spread of pandemic influenza, and help to reduce the burden of illness communities would contend with during an outbreak.

Leavitt made the announcement at Pandemic Planning Summits in Vermont and West Virginia with state officials and community leaders yesterday. These summits are the latest in a series of forums that will be convened in each state over the next few months.

President Bush has outlined a coordinated government strategy that includes the establishment of the new International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, stockpiling of vaccines and antiviral medications, expansion of early-warning systems domestically and abroad, as well as new funding and initiatives for local and state level preparedness.

In December, Leavitt met with senior officials from all 50 states and launched a series of preparedness summits to be held in every state over the next several months. The goal of the summits is to enhance state and local preparedness. In addition to this new funding and the state summits, HHS has sought to foster planning by developing checklists for individuals and families, businesses and state and local health departments to aid their pandemic preparedness efforts.

“The steps we take toward preparing have far-reaching benefits. We will be a nation better prepared to face down the threat of any influenza, infectious disease, emergency or bioterrorism threat,” Leavitt said.

For more information on pandemic preparedness efforts, visit www.pandemicflu.gov. (PR)