CD30.R8    The Directing Council,

 Recognizing the close relationship of health, development, and population dynamics to the growth, distribution, and structure of the population, and noting wide differences in fertility and mortality rates between the countries of the Region and within population groups in the countries;

 Reaffirming the basic human right of parents to decide freely and in a well-informed and responsible way the number and spacing of their children, and recognizing that this is an important means of preserving the health of mothers and children as well as the social and economic well-being of the family;

 Observing that national health policies and programs do not always take account of population dynamics and its relevance to countries' economic and social development; and

 Affirming the proposals contained in Document CE92/12, "Basis for the Definition of the Organization's Action Policy with Respect to Population Matters,'' presented by the Director, as a basis for improving the health and quality of life of mothers, children, and family units,

1. To strengthen the maternal and child health programs, taking into account their close relationship to the problems of population dynamics, towards achievement of the goal of health for all by the year 2000 and the need to reinforce action among less-favored high-risk groups in order to narrow the gap between different socioeconomic groups in society.

2. To urge the Member Governments to:

a) Promote the full participation of all sectors of society in the formulation and implementation of population policies appropriate to their own development plans;

b) Promote the conduct of studies on mortality, fertility, and other demographic variables, and to take prompt action to alleviate the problems so identified, not only in the field of health, but also in relation to other areas of sectoral development;

c) Conduct research, and develop and train the human resources needed to implement effective family planning programs;

d) Ensure that demographic data are used to identify health problems associated with population growth and migration; define the needs for services; identify high-risk and other priority groups; and structure required services on the basis of need;

e) Actively involve the health sector in the task of upgrading the quality of demographic data and vital statistics and in their analysis and use as a planning tool;

f) Ensure that human reproduction programs and activities are made an integral part of maternal and child health, and that such programs reach out to the entire population, in order that parents can exercise, on an informed basis, the right to decide on the number and spacing of their children, and thereby reduce health risks associated with the reproductive process, and ensure that population growth is consistent with the countries' social and economic policies and development;

g) Actively promote the dissemination of information and advice on family planning so as to keep the community informed and able to participate in decisions and activities related to the human reproductive process;

h) Pay particular concern to the problem of adolescent pregnancy and promote the teaching of family life education to the young.

3. To request the Director to:

a) Promote and support the participation of the health sector in formulating population and development policies.

b) Strengthen the Organization's coordination efforts, in conjunction with agencies of the United Nations System and governmental and nongovernmental bodies, so as to devote the maximum of resources available to support of maternal and child health and family planning programs;

c) Report on the progress made in these areas to the XXXI Meeting of the Directing Council.