The Premier of Niue is delighted that Pacific leaders have called for urgent action so the region is ready to combat the threat of avian flu.
Young Vivian had expressed concern that the smaller countries of the region would suffer particularly harshly from any outbreak because of their lack of resources.
But the Pacific Islands Forum summit, which finished yesterday in Port Moresby, made mention in its communique of the need to be ready and to ensure that they are as prepared as possible.
For this purpose Australia has donated nearly nine million New Zealand dollars and New Zealand another eight hundred thousand, and Young Vivian is pleased.
"We must immediately have a meeting of health ministers to talk about it and lay out plans for how we are going to spend that money."
Young Vivian says he would like this meeting to take place within days.
