RESOLUTIONS

 

 

CD24.R1    The Directing Council,

 Having examined the formal request for membership in the Pan American Health Organization made on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Suriname by the Prime Minister and Minister for General and Foreign Affairs of Suriname in a communication dated 8 March 1976;

 Considering that the Government of the Republic of Suriname has declared its readiness to accept all the obligations imposed by the Constitution of the Pan American Health Organization, to comply with the provisions of the Pan American Sanitary Code, as amended by the Additional Protocol of 24 September 1952, and to contribute by means of a quota assessment to the financial support of the Organization; and

 Bearing in mind the recommendation made by the Executive Committee at its 76th Meeting (Resolution XIX),

Resolves:

1. To approve with satisfaction the request by the Government of the Republic of Suriname for membership in the Pan American Health Organization.

2. To instruct the Director to transmit this decision to the Member Governments of the Organization.

Sept–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 48

 

 

CD24.R2    The Directing Council,

 Having examined the Annual Report of the Chairman of the Executive Committee, Dr. Orontes Avilés, of Nicaragua (Document CD24/13), on the work of the Committee from October 1975 to the present date, during which period the 75th and 76th Meetings were held; and

 Considering the provisions of Article 9-C of the Constitution of the Pan American Health Organization,

Resolves:

 To note with pleasure the Annual Report of the Chairman of the Executive Committee, Dr. Orontes Avilés, of Nicaragua (Document CD24/13) and to congratulate both the Chairman and the representatives of the other Member Governments on the Committee, on their excellent work.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 49

 

 

CD24.R3    The Directing Council,

 Having examined the Annual Report of the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau for 1975 (Official Document 143); and

 Bearing in mind the provisions of Article 9-C of the Constitution of the Pan American Health Organization,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the Annual Report of the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau for 1975 (Official Document 143).

2. To commend the Director and the staff of the Bureau for the work accomplished during the period covered by the report.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 49

 

 

CD24.R4    The Directing Council,

 Having approved the request by the Government of Suriname for membership in the Pan American Health Organization;

 Considering that Article V (5.8) of the Financial Regulations of PAHO provides that new Members shall be required to make a quota contribution for the year in which they become Members; and

 Bearing in mind that the quota assessed should be equivalent to the appropriate percentage shown in the scale adopted by the Organization of American States, in compliance with Article 60 of the Pan American Sanitary Code, but should not be higher than the per capita contribution of the largest contributor,

Resolves:

1. To establish the 1976 assessment for the Government of Suriname at 0.12 per cent.

2. To assess the net quota for 1976 at US$29,301.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 50

 

 

CD24.R5    The Directing Council,

 Considering that Suriname has been independent throughout the whole of 1976; and

 Bearing in mind that the 1976 quota assessment for the Kingdom of the Netherlands included an item relating to Suriname,

Resolves:

 To reduce the net quota assessment for the Kingdom of the Netherlands covering fiscal year 1976 from US$46,394 to $17,093.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 51

 

 

CD24.R6    The Directing Council,

 Having considered the report of the Director on the collection of quota contributions (Document CD24/14);

 Bearing in mind the importance of prompt and full payment of quota contributions to ensure financing of the authorized program and budget and to maintain the Organization in a sound financial position;

 Taking into account Resolution IV adopted by the Executive Committee at its 76th Meeting; and

 Considering the report of the Working Group on the Application of Article 6.B of the Constitution, which indicates that the majority of the countries with approved plans for deferred payments are meeting their commitments satisfactorily,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the report of the Director on the collection of quota contributions (Document CD24/14).

2. To thank the Governments that have already made payments in 1976, and to urge the other Governments to pay their outstanding balances of arrears and current year quotas as soon as possible so that the work of the Organization can continue and the financial burden of its program is distributed equitably among all the Members.

3. To direct the attention of Governments once again to the provisions of Article V (5.4) of the Financial Regulations of PAHO, part of which reads as follows: "Contributions shall be considered as due and payable in full...as of the first day of the financial year to which they relate....As of 1 January of the following financial year, the unpaid balance of such unpaid contribution shall be considered to be one year in arrears."

4. To request the Director to continue to inform the Governments of any balance due.

5. To permit the countries having approved plans for deferred payments to vote at the XXIV Meeting of the Directing Council.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 51

 

 

CD24.R7    The Directing Council,

 Having examined the Financial Report of the Director and the Report of the External Auditor for fiscal year 1975 (Official Document 140); and

 Recognizing that the financial position of the Organization continues to be sound,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the Financial Report of the Director and the Report of the External Auditor for fiscal year 1975 (Official Document 140).

2. To commend the Director for having achieved and maintained a sound financial position.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 52

 

 

CD24.R8    The Directing Council,

 Taking note of Resolution XVII approved by the Executive Committee at its 76th Meeting in connection with emergency assistance to Guatemala;

 Bearing in mind that, in spite of the severe earth movements which have devastated a large part of Guatemala and destroyed over 50 per cent of the physical capacity of its health installations, the Government of Guatemala, acting through the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, is making highly commendable short-term efforts for the purpose not only of restoring the physical capacity destroyed but of increasing that capacity.

 Recognizing that such increase in capacity involves a parallel increase in the training of health personnel at all levels, which in turn calls for large-scale technical assistance;

 Considering the interest shown by the Government of Guatemala, through its health authorities, in the training of personnel for the health sector, so as to meet the need to increase the country's ability to improve the coverage of the population; and

 Taking into account the existing health manpower resources and the increase in demand since the earthquake, due partly to the large number of persons injured and the need for services by the population,

Resolves:

1. To take note of Resolution XVII adopted by the Executive Committee at its 76th Meeting.

2. To urge the Director to seek further extrabudgetary funds for increasing PAHO/WHO technical assistance to Guatemala.

3. To pay particular attention, in providing this assistance, to training personnel and awarding fellowships, with a view to producing a rapid and effective impact on the problem of shortage of personnel in the health sector.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 53

 

 

CD24.R9    The Directing Council,

 Having examined Resolution XXIII adopted by the Executive Committee at its 76th Meeting;

 Bearing in mind the need for the countries to develop and strengthen intersectoral coordination as an essential condition for ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the health activities, especially those aimed at achieving the regional priority of extending the coverage of health services to the unprotected rural and semiurban populations;

 Reiterating consequently the need for the Ten-Year Health Plan for the Americas, 1981–1990, to be based on the closest possible intersectoral coordination and cooperation; and

 Bearing in mind the Organization's basic responsibility for promotion and technical support in this matter,

Resolves:

1. To urge the Governments to adopt the policies and measures needed to ensure that their health activities are progressively coordinated with those of other social and economic sectors, on the basis of the closest possible working cooperation.

2. To reiterate to the Governments the need for the Ten-Year Health Plan for the Americas, 1981–1990, to be based on the intersectoral coordination and cooperation in question in such a way as to reflect to the utmost possible extent the effective commitment of all sectors of national activity to the achievement of the health goals.

3. To recommend to the Director that he continue with the efforts made in regard to the above objectives and provide the Governments with the technical support they require to achieve those objectives.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146,54

 

 

CD24.R10    The Directing Council

 Bearing in mind the assistance given by the Pan American Sanitary Bureau on the occasion of the earthquake that occurred in Guatemala on 4 February 1976, the provisions of Resolution XXX approved by the XVIII Pan American Sanitary Conference in connection with the earthquake in Peru in 1970, and the recommendations concerning natural disasters contained in the Ten-Year Health Plan for the Americas;

 Being convinced that similar emergency situations are bound to occur in the disaster-prone parts of the Region and are likely to affect countries that do not as yet possess comprehensive emergency relief plans or that need technical assistance in order to update and apply them;

 Considering that most of the assistance agencies are not properly equipped to provide help in the health field in carrying out their reconstruction, rehabilitation and planning tasks; and

 Being anxious that the international assistance given to countries affected by natural disasters should be better coordinated, rational and more effective,

Resolves:

1. To thank the Director and the Secretariat, and particularly the personnel assigned to Guatemala, for the assistance given to that country in connection with the earthquake of 4 February 1976.

2. To request the Member Governments to develop plans and, where necessary, enact legislation, set standards, and take preventive or palliative measures against natural disasters and disseminate such measures throughout the sectors concerned, coordinating their action with that taken by the corresponding services of PASB.

3. To request the Director to set up within the Pan American Sanitary Bureau, after first compiling and analyzing the appropriate data and information, a disaster unit with instructions to define the policy of the Organization, to formulate a plan of action for the various types of disasters, to make an inventory of the human and other resources available, to train the necessary personnel, to prepare and disseminate appropriate guidelines and manuals, to promote operations research to meet the needs of the countries in disaster situations, and to ensure that this unit establish effective coordination with the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator, the International Red Cross, and other national and international bodies providing disaster assistance.

4. To request the Director to set up a natural disaster relief voluntary fund which can be used promptly and readily by the disaster unit.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 55

 

 

CD24.R11    The Directing Council,

 Having analyzed the feasibility study made by PASB in compliance with the provisions of Resolution VI adopted by the Executive Committee at its 76th Meeting (Document CD24/25);

 Taking into account the short time available for carrying out the study; and

 Considering, nevertheless, the importance of the problem and the offer made by the Government of Costa Rica in regard to the installation of the Center,

Resolves:

1. To thank the Director for the preliminary study carried out.

2. To thank the Government of Costa Rica once again for its kind offer.

3. To accept the establishment of such a Center and to authorize the Director to continue to work with the Government of Costa Rica in: a) developing a detailed plan for such a Center including the role, function, method of operation, costs and anticipated benefits, and b) negotiating acceptable arrangements between the Center and the Organization.

4. To request the Director to consider the use of extrabudgetary funds to meet any anticipated increase in the costs of the Center, as a result of the detailed plan, so as to enable it to serve the whole of the Region.

5. To request the Director to report to the Executive Committee at its 78th Meeting and to the Directing Council at its XXV Meeting on the development of the plan and the results of his negotiations, and seek further guidance and recommendations on subsequent steps.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 56

 

 

CD24.R12    The Directing Council,

Resolves:

In establishing the contributions of Member Governments and Participating Governments, their assessments shall be reduced further by the amount standing to their credit in the Tax Equalization Fund, except that credits of those Governments which levy taxes on the emoluments received from the Pan American Health Organization by their nationals and residents shall be reduced by the amounts of such tax reimbursements by PAHO.

3. That, in accordance with the Financial Regulations of PAHO, amounts not exceeding the appropriations noted under Paragraph 1 shall be available for the payment of obligations incurred during the period 1 January to 31 December 1977, inclusive. Notwithstanding the provision of this paragraph, obligations during the financial year 1977 shall be limited to the effective working budget, i.e., Parts I–VI.

4. That the Director shall be authorized to transfer credits between parts of the effective working budget, provided that such transfers of credits between parts as are made do not exceed 10 per cent of the part from which the credit is transferred. Transfers of credits between parts of the budget in excess of 10 per cent of the part from which the credit is transferred may be made with the concurrence of the Executive Committee. All transfers of budget credits shall be reported to the Directing Council and/or the Conference.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 57

 

 

CD24.R13    The Directing Council,

 Bearing in mind that Member Governments appearing in the scale adopted by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States are assessed according to the percentages shown in that scale, in compliance with Article 60 of the Pan American Sanitary Code; and

 Considering that other Member Governments and Participating Governments are assessed on the basis of percentages which would be assigned to them if they were subject to the OAS scale,

Resolves:

 To establish the assessments of the Member Governments and Participating Governments of the Pan American Health Organization for 1977 in accordance with the scale of quotas shown below and in the corresponding amounts.

 

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 59

 

 

CD24.R14    The Directing Council,

 Having considered Official Document 141 submitted by the Director, containing the proposed program and budget estimates of the World Health Organization for the Region of the Americas for 1978, and Document CD24/21, Rev. 1, which gives projections for 1979;

 Bearing in mind that the proposed program and budget estimates are submitted to the Directing Council as Regional Committee of the World Health Organization for the Americas for review and transmittal to the Director-General of WHO so that he may take them into account in preparing the program budget estimates of WHO for 1978–1979; and

 Noting the recommendations made by the Executive Committee in Resolution IX adopted at its 76th Meeting,

Resolves:

 To approve the proposed program and budget estimates of the World Health Organization for the Region of the Americas for 1978–1979, as shown in Official Document 141 and Document CD24/21, Rev. 1, and to request the Regional Director to transmit them to the Director-General of WHO so that he may take them into account in preparing the WHO program budget estimates for 1978–1979.

Sept.–Oct 1976 OD 146, 59

 

 

CD24.R15    The Directing Council,

 Having considered the proposed program and budget estimates of the World Health Organization for the Region of the Americas for 1978–1979 (Document CD24/21, Rev. 1); and

 Recognizing the advisability of projecting probable program needs into future years,

Resolves:

 To recommend to the Director-General that he include in the program budget of the World Health Organization for 1980 and 1981 the proposed program for the Region of the Americas as detailed in Document CD24/28, Rev. 1.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 61

 

 

CD24.R16    The Directing Council,

 Having considered the report of the Award Committee of the PAHO Award for Administration (Document CD24/9 and Annex); and

 Bearing in mind the regulations set forth in the Procedures governing the PAHO Award for Administration,

Resolves:

1. To declare Dr. Ernani Guilherme Fernandes da Motta of Brazil the winner of the 1976 PAHO Award for Administration.

2. To urge the Member Governments to promote the improvement of their health administration services by nominating candidates for the PAHO Award for Administration.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 62

 

 

CD24.R17    The Directing Council

 Bearing in mind the importance of the problem of Chagas' disease in several countries of the Region;

 Considering that WHO has a program of tropical disease research in which attention is paid to trypanosomal and other diseases; and

 Having regard to the great interest shown in this problem by the Delegations taking part in the Meeting,

Resolves:

1. To request the Director to approach the Director-General of the World Health Organization, on behalf of the countries concerned, asking that funds from the tropical disease research program be set aside for research into the prevention and control of Chagas' disease in the Americas.

2. To request the Director to give priority to Chagas' disease in research and control programs in PAHO's future budget allocations.

3. To ask the Director also to obtain extrabudgetary funds making it possible to carry out an effective regional program for the control of this disease.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 62

 

 

CD24.R18    The Directing Council

Elected Ecuador, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago to the Executive Committee upon the termination of the periods of office of Argentina, Cuba, and Nicaragua, and thanked the Governments of these countries for the services rendered to the Organization by their representatives on the Committee.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 63

 

 

CD24.R19    The Directing Council

 Having examined the report of the Director on the status of malaria programs in the Americas (Document CD24/INF/1);

 Bearing in mind Resolution XXIX adopted by the Executive Committee at its 76th Meeting;

 Recognizing that the countries of the Region have begun to apply a flexible strategy in their antimalaria activities; and

 Being conscious of the need to expand the training of personnel and to improve the utilization of the existing resources,

Resolves:

1. To endorse Resolution XXIX adopted by the Executive Committee at its 76th Meeting.

2. To express its satisfaction that some countries of the Region have begun to apply a flexible strategy in their anti–malaria activities.

3. To again urge international lending agencies, in particular the Inter–American Development Bank (IDB), to give favorable consideration to requests from Governments for financing malaria programs.

4. To thank the Director for his support of personnel training programs and of the efforts to secure better external financing.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 64

 

 

CD24.R20    The Directing Council,

 Considering the presentation by the working group appointed by the Director to study the formulation of the program and budget of the Pan American Health Organization and the discussions held during the Meeting of the Council;

 Bearing in mind the interim report of the working group and the summary record of the discussion on the subject by the Executive Committee at its 76th Meeting (Document CD24/8) including Resolution XXII adopted by the Committee at that Meeting; and

 Recognizing that the study will be ongoing in character,

Resolves:

1. To note the report on the formulation of the program and budget of the Pan American Health Organization (Document CD24/8).

2. To thank the Director and the working group for the excellent in-depth preliminary report and the Executive Committee for its careful review of this topic.

3. To urge the Director to take into account the guidelines provided by the recommendations of the interim report in the preparation of future programs and budgets of the Organization.

4. To request the Director to ensure that the study is continued and to report to the Executive Committee at its 78th Meeting.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 64

 

 

CD24.R21    The Directing Council,

 Having examined Official Document 141 submitted by the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau, which contains the provisional draft that is to constitute the basis for the preparation of the proposed program and budget estimates of the Pan American Health Organization for 1978 to be considered by the 78th Meeting of the Executive Committee and by the XXV Meeting of the Directing Council; and

 Recognizing that the provisional draft of the proposed program and budget estimates for 1978 contains much-needed projects formulated in cooperation with the national authorities,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the provisional draft of the proposed program and budget estimates of the Pan American Health Organization for 1978 contained in Official Document 141.

2. To instruct the Director to use the provisional draft as a basis for the preparation of the proposed program and budget estimates for 1978, after further consultations with the Governments to determine their latest desires and requirements in relation to the health priorities of the countries.

3. To request the Executive Committee to make a detailed examination of the revised program and budget estimates for 1978 to be presented by the Director, after further consultations with the Governments, and to submit its recommendations thereon to the XXV Meeting of the Directing Council.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 65

 

 

CD24.R22    The Directing Council

 Having considered the Final Report of the IX Inter-American Meeting, at the Ministerial Level, on Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Zoonoses Control (Document CD24/22);

 Bearing in mind the importance of the technical cooperation which the Organization is providing to the Governments through its Pan American Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Zoonoses Centers in the planning, operation and evaluation of animal health programs essential to the control and eradication of diseases of importance both to man and to animals;

 Considering the scope of the manpower training programs being carried out by the above-mentioned Centers; and

 Being aware that an increase is foreseen in the demand for services by the countries, and in the operating cost of such services,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the Final Report of the IX Inter-American Meeting, at the Ministerial Level, on Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Zoonoses Control (Document CD24/22).

2. To thank the Ministers of Agriculture for their willingness to make voluntary contributions to the Centers in order to cope with their financial problems, as indicated in Resolutions V and IX contained in Document CD24/22.

3. To express its appreciation to the Ministers of Agriculture for their efforts to improve the health of the peoples of the Americas through the control and prevention of animal diseases that affect the economy and health of the countries of the Hemisphere.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 66

 

 

CD24.R23    The Directing Council,

 Having learned with deep sorrow of the disaster that has overtaken Baja California, where Hurricane "Liza" has caused great loss of life and heavy material damage; and

 Recalling very clearly the generosity and solidarity invariably manifested both by the authorities and by the great people of Mexico when similar tragic events have occurred in other parts of the Region,

Resolves:

1. To express to the Government and people of Mexico its deep sorrow at the tragedy which has befallen the part of the country struck by Hurricane "Liza."

2. To convey to the victims' families, to all the Mexican people and to the authorities, a message expressing the sympathy and solidarity shared by all the Member Countries of the Pan American Health Organization.

3. To request the Director, in accordance with Resolution X adopted at the current meeting, to provide every assistance within the means of the Organization.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 67

 

 

CD24.R24    The Directing Council,

 Bearing in mind the provisions of Article 12.2 of the Staff Regulations,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the amendments to the Staff Rules of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau submitted by the Director in Annex I of Document CE76/10 and confirmed by the Executive Committee at its 76th Meeting, effective 1 January 1976.

2. To take note of the decision adopted by the Executive Committee at its 76th Meeting concerning the application of minus post adjustment to PASB staff, effective 1 January 1976.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 68

 

 

CD24.R25    The Directing Council,

 Bearing in mind Resolution X approved by the Directing Council at its XXIII Meeting, and also Resolution XV approved by the Executive Committee at its 76th Meeting;

 Having examined the report of the Director (Document CD24/17), which gives an account of the activities carried out by PASB during the International Women's Year and the strategy for the next decade;

 Taking note of the resolution approved by the United Nations General Assembly at its thirtieth session proclaiming the period from 1976 to 1985 United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development, and Peace; and

 Considering that the United Nations General Assembly decided to convene in 1980, at the mid-term of the proposed decade, a world conference to review and evaluate the progress made in implementing the objectives of the International Women's Year, as recommended by the World Conference of the International Women's Year,

Resolves:

1. To thank the Director and his staff for the information on questions relating to the status of women in the Region and within the Bureau.

2. To urge the Governments to examine the recommendations contained in the World Plan of Action and in the Director's report and establish short, medium, and long-term targets and priorities for carrying out the relevant programs.

3. To recommend to the Director that the Organization:

a) continue to provide the countries with the cooperation they need in carrying out programs designed to improve the health and well-being of women and expand their participation in health promotion activities;

b) establish machinery and procedures for the ongoing evaluation of those programs;

c) strengthen activities and programs aimed at promoting participation by women at the decision-making level in the Bureau.

4. To request the Director to report on the progress made in this direction to the Executive Committee at its 82nd Meeting and to the Directing Council at its XXVI Meeting, in 1979.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 69

 

 

CD24.R26    The Directing Council,

 Having examined Document CD24/5 containing resolutions of the Twenty-ninth World Health Assembly brought to the attention of the Council as Regional Committee of the World Health Organization for the Americas by the Director; and

 Having taken note of the information provided by the Director on the activities being carried out by the Organization in the various fields,

Resolves:

 To take note of the resolutions of the World Health Assembly contained in Document CD24/5.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 70

 

 

CD24.R27    The Directing Council,

 Considering that leprosy and tropical diseases, as well as parasitic diseases, continue to be serious causes of morbidity and mortality in the Americas;

 Mindful that, because of their great prevalence, these diseases have repercussions on the economic and social development of the countries;

 Considering that it is therefore urgently necessary to intensify research work for the prevention and control of these diseases, at the same time providing an opportunity for training the professional and auxiliary personnel required by the countries;

 Bearing in mind that the Government of Venezuela has offered to the Governments of the countries of the Americas and to PAHO its Center for Research and Training in Leprosy and Tropical Diseases; and

 Taking note of Document CD24/11 and having heard the statement made by the Delegation of Venezuela,

Resolves:

1. To accept with thanks the generous offer made by the Government of Venezuela to designate the Center as a national institution associated with the PAHO technical cooperation program, administered and supported financially by the Government of Venezuela.

2. To recognize the importance and usefulness of providing direction and coordination for the research activities at present being conducted in the countries on leprosy and tropical diseases.

3. To instruct the Director to include the activities of the Center in planning the Organization's disease control programs, providing the Center with such assistance as may be possible to enable it to expand and to extend its cooperative services and better support the health programs of the Member Countries.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 70

 

 

CD24.R28    The Directing Council,

 Having examined the Director's report on the evaluation of the initial phase of the Ten-Year Health Plan for the Americas (Document CD24/18);

 Recognizing the great efforts made by the Governments and the positive results achieved in some areas, as evidenced by the preliminary evaluation in question;

 Considering that in some program areas and in a number of countries, intensified action and increased investments are necessary if the goals of the decade are to be attained; and

 Considering that the evaluation processes should be continuous and should facilitate timely decision-making so as to enable the goals to be attained within the prescribed time-limits,

Resolves:

1. To congratulate the Director on the formulation and preparation of the report on evaluation of the initial phase of the Ten-Year Plan (Document CD24/18).

2. To congratulate the countries on the efforts made in common.

3. To urge the Governments to intensify and speed up their activities in light of the results achieved during the preliminary evaluation.

4. To suggest that the final evaluation of the Ten-Year Health Plan be carried out in 1980.

5. To request the Governments to provide PAHO, when possible, with all the information and cooperation required for achieving these purposes.

6. To request the Director to inform the Governing Bodies concerning the progress made in this direction.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 71

 

 

CD24.R29    The Directing Council,

 Having studied Document CD24/6 entitled "Study on Reduction of Length of Meetings of the Directing Council"; and

 Recognizing that it is the responsibility of the Directing Council at each of its Meetings to determine its own program of work in accordance with the provisions of Article 12.C of the Constitution of the Pan American Health Organization,

Resolves:

1. To take note of Resolution XXI on this subject approved by the Executive Committee at its 76th Meeting.

2. To request the Director to continue the study of this question and to report on it once again to the Executive Committee at its 78th Meeting and to the Directing Council at its XXV Meeting.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 72

 

 

CD24.R30    The Directing Council,

 Considering that 2 December 1977 will mark the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Pan American Health Organization, the oldest intergovernmental public health organization in the world; and

 Considering that this important event, which has great significance for all the peoples of the Western Hemisphere, should be widely recognized and celebrated,

Resolves:

1. To urge the Member Governments, on the occasion of the anniversary of the Organization, to designate 1977 as "Community Participation in Health Year" and to carry out a public education campaign based on that theme.

2. To recommend to the Member Governments that they issue a commemorative postage stamp in 1977.

3. To request the Director to prepare a special program for the celebration of "Community Participation in Health Year" and to authorize the use of available savings for the activities related to that program.

4. To invite other organizations to help to make the event a resounding success.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 73

 

 

CD24.R31    The Directing Council

 Considering the ever-increasing volume of persons traveling by air and the expansion of air transport networks and interlinkage of local and international flights;

 Cognizant therefore of the increased danger of the importation of new diseases, for which no preventive measures are taken at present, such as Lassa fever, into countries where the knowledge of these diseases is limited and urgent laboratory diagnosis may not be possible; and

 Noting the recommendations of the Executive Committee contained in Document CD24/23 on the termination of compulsory smallpox vaccination for international travelers in the Americas,

Resolves:

1. To request the Director to take steps to maintain and expand the system of disease surveillance and rapid exchange of information between Member Countries of the Region, and to bring this matter of new diseases and their special problem for the countries to the attention of the WHO Committee on International Surveillance of Communicable Diseases.

2. To urge Governments to liaise with airlines to ensure the availability of necessary information relating to passengers who may have been exposed to communicable disease during travel and to improve the training of airline personnel regarding the importance of illness occurring among passengers.

3. To request the Director to provide updated guidelines and training manuals to enable Governments to revise their protection procedures and reorient their port-health personnel in order to reflect the new requirements which may be necessary to prevent the spread of dangerous diseases by air travelers.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 74

 

 

CD24.R32    The Directing Council,

 Having studied the Final Report of the Technical Discussions on the topic: "Development of the Health Service Infrastructure with Due Regard to the Need for Extension of Coverage," held during the current Meeting (Document CD24/DT/3, Rev. 1);

 Recognizing that the basic concepts of "Health services coverage." "Primary health services," and "Community participation" are interpreted differently because of the peculiar features of the various countries and the multisectoral approach that should be followed;

 Being aware of the need for a better knowledge of the nature of the national processes for extending health services coverage so as to redirect and maximize the human and material resources of the health sector to strengthen those processes,

 Bearing in mind that programming and implementing the extension of coverage calls for operational definitions, adaptable to the characteristics of the different countries, of such important problems as, the formal health system and its relationship and interaction with community health systems; the most suitable technology for achieving extension of coverage, within the limitations imposed by the shortage of resources, and the administrative and operational solutions that the countries should adopt in order to accelerate the attainment of their health goals, using whatever technologies they deem appropriate; and

 Recognizing that the tasks described above should be approached in a spirit of solidarity by the Ministries of Health, with the technical support of the Organization, in order to meet the priority regional goal of extending health services coverage to the unprotected rural and urban-fringe populations,

Resolves:

1. To urge the Governments to intensify their efforts to solve the problems involved in the development of the health service infrastructure with due regard to the need for extension of coverage by expanding the relevant programs and giving them priority.

2. To request those Governments which have gained experience in implementing programs for extension of coverage to share it with other countries, in cooperation with the Organization.

3. To urge the Governments to include an evaluation component in their plans for expanding health services coverage and to mobilize the research resources of universities and other centers to help in evaluating programs, training personnel, establishing output indices, selecting operational methods and calculating costs, in the various countries.

4. To request the Director to promote and organize activities aimed at collecting, analyzing and giving operational form to the experience and knowledge accumulated in executing programs for extension of coverage, with a view to placing them at the disposal of the other countries, especially in regard to the definition of the formal health system and its relationship and interaction with the informal community system, the most suitable technology for achieving extension of coverage within the limitations imposed by the shortage of resources, and the administrative and operational solutions that the countries should adopt in order to accelerate the attainment of their health goals, using whatever technologies they deem appropriate.

5. To request the Director to organize a systematic program for carrying out the recommendations presented in the report.

6. To request the Director to convene a special meeting of Ministers of Health for the purpose of analyzing the situation in regard to the processes of expansion of coverage and adjusting the policy and strategy of the Hemisphere accordingly, so as to achieve the goals of the Ten-Year Health Plan in this field as rapidly as possible.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 75

 

 

CD24.R33    The Directing Council,

 Bearing in mind Resolution XIV, approved at its XXIII Meeting, concerning the priority which should be assigned to the health care of young people both by the Governments and by the Pan American Health Organization;

 Having considered the information on this subject furnished by the Director (Document CD24/10), including the study carried out by an ad hoc working group set up by the Pan American Sanitary Bureau in December 1975, and Resolution XXIV of the Executive Committee approved at its 76th Meeting in 1976;

 Recognizing that the problems affecting youth and the factors influencing the welfare of young people are so broad and complex that they can not be solved by the traditional psycho-medical approach alone; and

 Being aware of the aggressive nature of certain social factors detrimental to the health of young people, especially the powerful interests that promote propaganda for the consumption of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes,

Resolves:

1. To reiterate the need to put into effect the provisions of Resolution XIV approved by the Directing Council at its XXIII Meeting, relating to studies and methodology for the formulation and execution of health programs for youth, within the context of general health services.

2. To request the Director to continue studying these problems and to propose concrete strategies for their control to the Executive Committee at its 78th Meeting, and to the Directing Council at its XXV Meeting.

3. To suggest to the Director that the Organization provide advisory services with a view to obtaining the best possible knowledge of the present situation and training the manpower required for a multidisciplinary approach to the health problems of youth.

4. To urge the Member Governments to adopt strategies and launch multisectoral programs specially adapted to meet the needs of youth, coordinated and directed by health institutions, and with youth representatives also participating in their planning and management, measures being taken to regulate the use of the mass media so as to prevent the promotion of consumption habits and practices inimical to the health of young people.

5. To recommend to the Director that he persevere in his intention to promote the cooperation of national institutions and international agencies concerned with achieving satisfactory health conditions for the young.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 77

 

 

CD24.R34    The Directing Council

 Considering that there has been no endemic smallpox in the Americas since April 1971, that the transmission of the disease is at present restricted to remote areas of Ethiopia and Somalia, that the risk of smallpox importation into the Americas is low, and that there is a slight but definite risk associated with smallpox vaccination,

Resolves:

1. To recommend that Member Countries abolish routine smallpox vaccination requirements for international travelers within the Americas.

2. To recommend also to the countries that smallpox vaccination for international travelers be retained as a routine requirement only in the case of those who within the previous 14 days have been in any country declared to be an infected area.

3. To recommend further to the Member Governments that they maintain epidemiological surveillance and develop selective smallpox vaccination programs for the most exposed population groups.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 37

 

 

CD24.R35    The Directing Council,

 Having studied the report of the Executive Committee recommending an amendment to the Rules for Technical Discussions (Document CD24/7),

Resolves:

1. To amend Rule 7 of the Rules for Technical Discussions by deleting the words "each year" in the second line and inserting the words "by two years" immediately following the word "preceding" in the third line.

2. To select the topic for the Technical Discussions to be held at the XXV Meeting of the Directing Council in 1977 and the topic for the Discussions to be held at the XX Pan American Sanitary Conference in 1978.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 79

 

 

CD24.R36    The Directing Council,

 Considering the recommendations contained in the Ten-Year Health Plan for the Americas in relation to national documentation systems for the health sciences;

 Bearing in mind the work of the PAHO/WHO Regional Library of Medicine and the Health Sciences (RLM); and

 Being aware that a number of countries in Latin America have not been able as yet to organize such national information systems,

Resolves:

1. To reemphasize the recommendation to the countries to hasten the creation of national systems for health sciences documentation before the end of the decade.

2. To request the countries which have already established systems to consolidate and expand their capacity to disseminate scientific and technical information to health professionals by extending the services to hospitals and, through them, creating regional systems of biomedical documentation designed to provide up-to-date scientific information to health professionals, whatever their place of work, and especially to services concerned with primary care and the coverage of the rural areas most remote from large centers.

3. To request the Director to continue to give financial support for the establishment of such programs and to seek the assistance of other international or private agencies for projects set up by the countries to this end.

4. To request the Director to encourage fellowships to provide advanced training for librarians of hospitals and other health centers.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 79

 

 

CD24.R37    The Directing Council,

 Bearing in mind the provisions of Rules 7, 8 and 9 of the Rules for Technical Discussions,

Resolves:

1. To select the topic "Coordination between social security systems and public health" for the Technical Discussions to be held during the XXV Meeting of the Directing Council of PAHO, XXIX Meeting of the Regional Committee of WHO for the Americas.

2. To select the topic "Drugs: Incidence of drugs in health costs. National and international problems" for the Technical Discussions to be held during the XX Pan American Sanitary Conference, XXX Meeting of the Regional Committee of WHO for the Americas.

Sept.–Oct. 1976 OD 146, 80