WHO adopts new health resolutions on Africa
By Ben Ukwuoma
AFRICAN health ministers ended the 59th Session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa at the weekend in Kigali, Rwanda, with the adoption of four resolutions aimed at scaling up action in areas deemed key to improving the health situation on the continent.
The meeting also re-nominated the incumbent Regional Director, Dr. Luis Gomes Sambo of Angola, to steer the affairs of WHO in the African Region for another five years.
Sambo's nomination will, however, be submitted for approval to the WHO Executive Board scheduled to meet in Geneva next January.
The regional committee adopted resolutions on tackling drug resistance related to AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria; accelerating progress towards malaria elimination in the African region, and strengthening outbreak preparedness and response in the context of the current influenza pandemic.
The fourth resolution related to policy orientations on the establishment of centres of excellence for disease surveillance, public health laboratories, food and medicines regulation.
The resolution on drug resistance related to AIDS, TB and malaria urged countries to establish drug resistance and drug efficacy monitoring systems; strengthen procurement and management of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria supplies; and develop and implement policies and strategies to improve diagnosis and effective early treatment.
On prospects for malaria elimination in the region, the meeting adopted a resolution calling on member-states to integrate malaria control in their national development plans and poverty reduction strategies; support ongoing research and development initiatives; strengthen national health information systems, and invest more in health promotion, community education and participation.
Regarding the current influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, the meeting urged countries to: ensure the highest level of government support in addressing the threat; strengthen national capacity for influenza diagnosis, and of health services to reduce transmission; periodically update preparedness and response plans; implement communication strategies that regularly provide updated information; and contribute regularly to the African Health Emergency Fund.
To boost national capacities for effective and comprehensive disease surveillance and response, laboratory investigation and food and medicines regulation, the meeting urged countries to conduct an assessment of existing infrastructure and human capacity to determine their state of preparedness to set up centres of excellence; develop a national policy frame-work on centres of excellence; sensitise relevant national departments and ministries to the need to create centres of excellence and secure multiple funding for centres of excellence to guarantee their sustained performance.
The 60th session of the regional committee will take place next year in Equatorial Guinea.
