Mr. Aburizal Bakrie Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and the Chairman of Komnas FBPI

The National Committee for Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness, known as Komnas FBPI, coordinates the Indonesian government response to the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Experts fear that H5N1 virus, which primarily causes disease in birds and other animals, could mutate into a form which spreads easily between humans and set-off a global pandemic.  Komnas FBPI coordinates and facilitates national action to combat H5N1 virus, and identifies the most effective ways to implement the National Strategic Plan For Avian Influenza Control and Preparedness for Human Pandemic Influenza 2006-2008. The government's goal is to have the H5N1 virus fully under control in Indonesia by the end of 2008.

Komnas FBPI was created on 7 March 2006 by a decree of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Komnas FBPI is a Minister-level committee, headedby the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie. The committee has 14 members, including all Ministers directly involved in combating the H5N1 virus, the Chief Commander of the Indonesian National Army, the Head of the Indonesian Police, and the Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross. Mr. Bayu Krisnamurthi serves as Secretary and Chief Executive of Komnas FBPI and manages its operations.

Komnas FBPI is advised by a panel of experts and is in consultation with the key animal-and human-health professional associations in Indonesia.

Operations are managed by the Komnas FBPI Executive. The executive team includes six task forces that provide direction on:

1. research and development,
2. animal health,
3. human health,
4. vaccine and
5. anti-viral medicines, and
6. mass communication and public information.
   

The Komnas FBPI Secretariat carries out day-to-day activities of the committee. The Komnas FBPI Secretariat has 15 full time-staff and also includes a media and information centre, which facilitates information flows between government Ministries and provides the latest information on H5N1 to the media and the public. The Komnas Secretariat works closely with Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the poultry industry, provincial and local governments and others to respond to human and animal cases of H5N1 virus and to prevent new cases from occurring.  When new human cases of H5N1 in Karo and Garut districts were confirmed, for example, the Komnas Secretariat sent technical staff into the field to support local coordination, surveillance and rapid response. The Komnas Secretariat can also provide immediate funding to local governments for emergency culling of poultry, to ensure local animal owners are compensated as quickly as possible.

Komnas Secretariat is mapping all the funding arrangements from Indonesian Government Ministries and various donor countries and agencies to identify the best way to support Indonesian programs and policies.

Tanggap Flu Burung!