CISCAI ITRI COOPERATIVE RESEARCH  PROJECT FORMALLY  LAUNCHED (8 DECEMBER  2008, Vientiane , Lao PDR) 

The  ASEAN  Foundation  in cooperation with the  Information Technology Research Institute (ITRI)  formally launched last  8 December 2008,  the   project  dubbed as the Communication and Information Systems to Combat Avian Influenza  (CISCAI), in a ceremony held at the conference room of National Authority for Science and Technology  (NAST) in Vientiane, Laos PDR.

The event was launched   by  Dr. Filemon A. Uriarte, Jr.  ASEAN Foundation Executive Director, and  Acting Director  General of  ITRI,  Mr. Phonpasit Phissamay.  The event was  also graced by key  agency partners  of the CISCAI,  such as the ASEAN Department of the Lao Ministry Foreign Affairs, National Avian and Human Influenza  Coordination Office (NAHICO), the Cooperation division from NAST, the Ministry of Heath,  Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, and  local media.

Avian Influenza (AI), or Bird Flu, has recently emerged as a disease of global significance in both the animal as well as human health sectors. The ailment has taken a heavy toll in terms of substantial losses in the poultry sector around the world, and in particular has caused about 400 human cases with about 250 reported deaths since 2003.  As of 28 May 2008, there were 383 confirmed human cases and 241 reported deaths due to Avian Influenza (AI) around the world. Out of these, 274 cases and 186 deaths were found in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member Countries, making the Southeast Asia region a hotspot for AI infections and fatalities and therefore a reason for global health concern.

To successfully combat AI, it needs  early detection. Hence, it is necessary to catch or spot AI early on, and then try to nip it in the bud by timely and swift response. For this to occur,  the CISCAI  project will  deploy a suite of information  and communications technologies  (ICT) that  will be  field-tested initially in two selected pilot countries, namely; Lao PDR and Viet Nam.  Among the ICT technologies that will be employed include a combination of Geographical Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) technologies and the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) data service such as Short Message Service (SMS), and Global Packet Radio System (GPRS). The purpose of the study is to gauge the performance of these developed systems in terms of the hardware, software and people ware aspects, in order to provide the requisite and timely information for concerned officials to act  in a rapid manner for  the effective control and management of AI outbreaks within the ASEAN region.

The threat of the Avian Influenza on human populations is real.  The virus itself does not consider  any geographical boundaries and  only  regional and global efforts through a coordinated approach such as that of the CISCAI, and with the use of  sound science and technology such as  information  and communications technologies, can we achieve success in controlling and managing the threat.  As such Laos PDRs participation in this monumental project, says  Dr. Uriarte, stressing  on the vital role Laos PDR  will be playing in the successful implementation  of the project.  

The launching ceremony comes in timely since just last December 4, a few days before the launching ceremony,  the Laos  Xayaboury Provincial Avian Influenza  Control Committee had declared an AI red zone which covers areas within a 1kilometer radius of the outbreak. This  zone  includes the seven villages of Donngeun, Donmay, Boung, Phapoun, Simeuang, Kaeng and Thin of Laos PDR.

The CISCAI Project is expected to run for 3 years with a total  budget of around USD 1 million. The project is being funded under the  Japan-ASEAN Solidarity Fund.