RESOLUTIONS

 

 

CD30.R1 The Directing Council,

 Having examined the formal request for membership in the Pan American Health Organization made on behalf of the State of St. Christopher and Nevis by the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a communication dated 9 April 1984; and

 Considering that the Government of St. Christopher and Nevis has declared its readiness to accept all the obligations of 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 to the Pan American Sanitary Code (1952), and to contribute by means of a quota assessment to the financial support of the Organization,

Resolves:

1. To approve with satisfaction the request of the State of St. Christopher and Nevis 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. 1984 OD 197, 34

 

 

CD30.R2    The Directing Council,

 Having considered the document on the economic crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean and its repercussions on the health sector (Document CD30/16), and the report of the 92nd Meeting of the Executive Committee,

Resolves:

1. To express appreciation to the Director for the study on the repercussions of the economic crisis on the health sector and to urge the Director to apply the document's recommendations.

2. To urge Member Countries to undertake the studies recommended in the report with the support of the Secretariat, including the impact of technology and human resources on health costs, the review of the financing of the health sector with the objective of moving toward the fulfillment of the principles of efficacy, efficiency, and equity, and the examination of the impact of the crisis on health sector resources, both public and private, and on their distribution and use.

3. To request the Director to continue to examine the international economic environment and the impact of changing developments on the health sector, to assist the Member Countries in their own analyses, and to report to the Governing Bodies on any major changes in the situation, as appropriate.

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 35

 

 

CD30.R3 The Directing Council,

 Having considered the document containing guidelines for the promotion of TCDC/ECDC and the report of the 92nd Meeting of the Executive Committee (CD30/15 and Annexes);

 Sharing the conviction that TCDC/ECDC is a basic mechanism for the achievement of health for all by the year 2000; and

 Recognizing that TCDC/ECDC is a dynamic instrument for mobilizing scientific, technical, managerial, financial, and other resources necessary to generate and strengthen national and collective capabilities to improve the health of the people,

Resolves:

1. To express appreciation to the Director for the "Guidelines for the Promotion of TCDC/ECDC in the Health Sector with the Collaboration of PAHO" and to recommend their use as a basis for action in the field, together with the report of the Second Meeting of the PAHO/WHO Special Working Group on TCDC, created by the Organization for this purpose.

2. To urge the Member Countries to take the appropriate institutional, legal, administrative, and financial steps to promote, facilitate, and undertake collective and bilateral actions using the mechanisms of TCDC/ECDC relative to the Regional Strategies and the Plan of Action for health for all by the year 2000.

3. To recommend that the Director take the necessary technical and administrative steps to collaborate with Member Countries in TCDC/ECDC in the priority areas of health noted in the guidelines and such other steps as may be necessary.

4. To request the Director to report to the XXXI Meeting of the Directing Council on Member Countries' progress in the use of TCDC/ECDC and on the support provided by PAHO/WHO.

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 36

 

 

CD30.R4    The Directing Council,

 Having examined the Annual Report of the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau for 1983 (Official Document 196); 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 1983.

2. To commend the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau for the new format and organization of the Report, which facilitates better understanding of the work accomplished by PAHO during the period covered.

3. To thank the Director for his leadership and support to the Member Governments in the health programs and activities conducted during the past year.

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 37

 

 

CD30.R5    The Directing Council,

 Having examined the Financial Report of the Director and the Report of the External Auditor for the period 1982–1983 (Official Document 194 and Add. I);

 Noting the report (Document CD30/3, Add. I, and Corrig.) of the 92nd Meeting of the Executive Committee on its review of the financial statements and relevant schedules of the Organization as contained in Official Document 194 and Add. I, especially its concerns regarding the status of quota contributions; and

 Recognizing that the Organization continues to be in a sound financial situation,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the Financial Report of the Director and the Report of the External Auditor for the period 1982–1983 (Official Document 194 and Add. I).

2. To endorse fully the comments and concerns expressed by the 92nd Meeting of the Executive Committee in its report on the financial condition of the Organization as of 31 December 1983 (Document CD30/3, Add. I).

3. To commend the Director for having maintained a sound financial situation.

Sept–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 37

 

 

CD30.R6    The Directing Council,

 Considering the importance of the United Nations Decade for Women in securing recognition for their role in society in the countries of the Region and in the agencies of the United Nations System and other regional agencies;

 Considering, however, that to guarantee the improvement of the health status of women, recognition must be translated into concrete action based on the goals of the Five-Year Regional Plan of Action on Women, Health and Development; and

 Cognizant that these actions must continue beyond the end of the five-year period as an integral part of the strategies for attainment of the goal of health for all by the year 2000,

Resolves:

1. To urge the Member Governments to:

a) Intensify their efforts to provide more educational opportunities for women, such as will contribute to their occupational development and give due recognition and support to their important contributions as providers and users of health care at all levels;

b) Strengthen country women, health and development focal points and give them a part to play at the decision-making level and the resources and time they need to bring about adequate intersectoral coordination among the different government institutions and women's nongovernmental organizations;

c) Enforce their laws on the protection of women's rights and have all discriminatory legislation rescinded.

2. To request the Director to:

a) Continue giving priority to support for country activities in implementation of the Five-Year Plan and to the women, health and development program, and to continue efforts to facilitate exchanges of information and experience in this field among the Member Countries, and to encourage PAHO Country Representatives to meet regularly with the heads of national offices established by countries to address special issues relative to women;

b) Provide special training in key areas so as to enable women to compete on an equal basis for senior positions in the Organization, and to establish targets for staffing professional and senior positions with women;

c) Continue specific support to the Special Subcommittee on Women, Health and Development in the performance of its functions, and to facilitate for the countries represented on it the receipt of current information on the subject;

d) Ensure that the goals and actions of the Five-Year Regional Plan of Action on Women, Health and Development continue to be pursued beyond 1985 and are fully integrated into the Plan of Action for the implementation of the Regional Strategies for the attainment of the goal of health for all by the year 2000.

 

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 38

 

 

CD30.R7    The Directing Council,

 Having seen the report on health of disabled persons (Document CD30/14) and Resolution XLIII, "International Year of Disabled Persons, 1981" of the XXVIII Meeting of the Directing Council;

 Cognizant that since 1981 many Member Governments have made important progress in the establishment of programs for disabled persons; and

 Aware of the growing importance of making rehabilitation services accessible to all population sectors in need of them,

Resolves:

1. To thank the Director for the information supplied on progress attained in the Region since 1981, the International Year of Disabled Persons, regarding programs to address the health of disabled persons.

2. To urge the Member Governments to:

a) Continue adopting policies and programs for the comprehensive protection and care of disabled persons and for the prevention of causes of disability;

b) Give special emphasis in programs for disabled persons to the development of family and community-based rehabilitation technologies in the context of the primary health care strategy.

3. To request the Director to continue cooperating with the Member Governments in the adoption of those policies and programs for disabled persons, and to strengthen the cooperation, surveillance, and evaluation activities under the Regional Program for the Development of Health Services for Disabled Persons.

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 39

 

 

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,

Resolves:

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.

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 40

 

 

CD30.R9    The Directing Council,

 Having reviewed the report of the Award Committee of the PAHO Award for Administration, 1984 and Resolution VIII of the 92nd Meeting of the Executive Committee (Document CD30/7 and Annexes); and

 Bearing in mind the regulations set forth in the Procedure and Guidelines governing the PAHO Award for Administration,

Resolves:

 To declare Dr. Manuel Barquín, of Mexico, winner of the PAHO Award for Administration, 1984.

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 41

 

 

CD30.R10    The Directing Council,

 Having considered the report of the Director on the collection of quota contributions (Document CD30/21 and Add. I);

 Noting the report of the Working Party on the application of Article 6.B of the PAHO Constitution relating to the suspension of voting privileges of Member Governments that fail to meet their financial obligations to the Organization;

 Expressing concern that five Member Countries are in arrears in the payment of their quota contributions to the extent that they are subject to the application of Article 6.B of the Constitution;

 Taking into consideration that the Pan American Sanitary Code precludes the payment of quota contributions in local currencies; and

 Noting with satisfaction that most countries in arrears have entered into agreements with the Director for the liquidation by 1988 of arrears,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the report of the Director on the collection of quota contributions (Document CD30/21 and Add. I).

2. To thank the Governments that have already made payments in 1984, and to urge the Governments to fulfill their financial obligations to the Organization in a prompt and responsible manner.

3. To permit the representatives of the Member Countries to which Article 6.B applies to exercise the privilege of the vote at the current Meeting of the Directing Council.

4. To request the Director to monitor carefully the agreements made by Member Countries in arrears in the payment of their quota contributions; to advise the Executive Committee of countries' compliance with their commitments for the liquidation of their arrears; and to report to the XXXI Meeting of the Directing Council on the status of the collection of quota contributions for 1985.

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 42

 

 

CD30.R11    The Directing Council

Elected Brazil, Colombia, and Honduras to the Executive Committee upon termination of the periods of office of the Dominican Republic, Panama, and Uruguay, and thanked the Governments of these countries for the services rendered to the Organization by their representatives on the Committee.

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 43

 

 

CD30.R12    The Directing Council,

 Having examined the Annual Report of the Chairman of the Executive Committee (Document CD30/3, Add. I, and Corrig.) on the work of the Committee from October 1983 to date, the period during which the 91st, 92nd, and 93rd Meetings were held; 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 Chairman of the Executive Committee (Document CD30/3, Add. I, and Corrig.).

2. To congratulate the Chairman and the other members of the Committee on their excellent work.

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 44

 

 

CD30.R13    The Directing Council

 Having considered Resolution I of the 93rd Meeting of the Executive Committee and the tentative modified projection of $58,076,000 of the World Health Organization's funding for the Region of the Americas for the biennium 1986–1987; and

 Noting that the proposed amount of $58,076,000 is $484,000 less than the original $58,560,000 regional allocation,

Resolves:

1. To recommend to the Director-General of the World Health Organization the modified proposed provisional distribution of the $58,076,000 program budget for the Region of the Americas.

2. To request the Director-General to consider the possibility of providing increased support to the program budget in the amount of $484,000 in order to support the Regional Director's Development Program for Country Activities, which is being established to give the Organization greater flexibility in responding to unexpected changes in the situations of Member Countries which affect the cost of the programs, and to support those countries that are making genuine efforts to fulfill their obligations by carrying out the policies and strategies they have adopted collectively.

3. To request the Director-General, when formulating his budget, to take into account the views of Member Countries expressed in the Meeting of the Regional Committee for the Americas.

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 44

 

 

CD30.R14    The Directing Council,

 Having examined the report on the International Program on Chemical Safety (IPCS) (Annex II of Document CD30/17);

 Considering Resolution EB73.101 of the Executive Board of WHO urging the participation of the countries in the Program and the increasing participation therein of all Regional Offices of WHO;

 Considering Resolution V of the 92nd Meeting of the Executive Committee recommending that the Directing Council approve the Program presented for the Americas;

 Aware of the growing importance of health problems associated with the exposure of human beings to the extensive use of chemicals and chemical products in the Region and of the need to prevent and control the adverse effects thereof and of preserving a wholesome environment; and

 Recognizing the importance of integrating the IPCS into existing environmental health programs.

Resolves:

1. To take note of the report on the International Program on Chemical Safety and to thank the Director for its preparation.

2. To urge the Member Governments to:

a) Participate in activities under the IPCS and support the policies and strategies for the measures to be taken in the Region;

b) Support the implementation of the evaluation of the status of chemical safety, mainly in regard to intersectoral action.

3. To request the Director to implement the measures suggested in the report, including the evaluation of the status of chemical safety in the Region and the framing of proposals for medium-term (1984–1989) programs on the subject.

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 45

 

 

CD30.R15    The Directing Council,

 Having examined the report on Coordination of Social Security and Public Health Institutions (Document CD30/18);

 Cognizant of the progress that the countries have made in this field and aware that, unless the ministries of health and social security institutions coordinate their activities, it will be virtually impossible for a large number of countries in the Region to achieve the objective of universal coverage;

 Bearing in mind the various suggestions and proposals made by the country delegations for strengthening and broadening coordination arrangements, which will improve the organization of national health resources in addressing the health care needs of the population; and

 Considering that the current critical situation of the Latin American economies directly affects the financing of health and social security programs, and that new financing approaches and strategies must be found for providing those programs with an adequate share of society's resources and opportunities,

Resolves:

1. To accept the report presented by the Director on coordination of social security and public health institutions.

2. To reiterate the recommendations included in Resolution XXXIV of the XXVIII Meeting of the Directing Council (1981), especially those recommending that the Governments "establish or restructure the bodies for interinstitutional representation in the health field . . . to . . . give these institutions a role in decision-making" within the health sector and "include representatives of social security agencies and other health sector institutions in delegations to the Meetings of the Organization's Governing Bodies."

3. To recommend to the Member Governments that they formulate strategies for the progressive development of linkages in those areas in which the coordination of social security institutions and ministries of health would help ensure better use of national resources for the extension of health care services to those population groups that still lack access to them.

4. To urge the Member Governments to:

a) Carry out studies that will help define the sectoral framework and the interinstitutional relationships in which health care delivery actually takes places;

b) Conduct health care coverage studies designed to determine the actual use made of the services and the possibilities of complementary sectoral institutions in providing health care for the population;

c) Analyze the financial systems of social security institutions and the health sector as a whole, with a view to the adoption of policies and programs that will promote adequate interaction between ministries of health and social security institutions.

5. To recommend to the Member Governments that they include the health programs of the social security system in the preparation and implementation of technical cooperation plans and programs for the health sector, as well as specific activities for promoting and supporting the legal, institutional, and operational coordination of ministries of health and social security institutions.

6. To request the Director to take the steps necessary for the establishment and conduct of a well-defined program of technical cooperation with national and international social security agencies that will ensure the appropriate broadening and strengthening of activities for encouraging and supporting the above-mentioned actions.

7. To request the Director to report to the XXXII Meeting of the Directing Council on the current situation, the progress made, and activities undertaken in this field, and to include in his annual reports information on the continuing development of the matter.

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 46

 

 

CD30.R16    The Directing Council

 Having seen the Final Report of the Seminar on Uses and Perspectives in Epidemiology, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 7–10 November 1983 (Document CD30/11) and considering that the document points to important prospects for the development of epidemiology as a strategic discipline for improving knowledge of the health problems of the population and guiding the search for ways and means of preventing and controlling them; and

 Recognizing that changes in health profiles and service demands require more appropriate use of the principles and methods of epidemiology in evaluating the health situation and its trends, redefining priorities, evaluating the effectiveness of technologies and the impact of health services, and improving knowledge of the occurrence, distribution, and causation of diseases and health problems,

Resolves:

1. To accept the recommendations of the Seminar on Uses and Perspectives in Epidemiology (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 7–10 November 1983).

2. To urge the Member Governments to:

a) Reinforce, at all levels, the practice of epidemiology, expanding its scope application to all areas of the sector, including disease control, health planning, and evaluation;

b) Mobilize and promote the coordination of epidemiological services, research, and teaching, in accordance with the needs of their countries.

3. To request the Director to develop, within the Organization's regular budget, a program of activities to assist the Member Countries in implementing the recommendations of the report.

4. To request the Director to seek extrabudgetary funds to enhance assistance in epidemiological activities in the Region.

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 48

 

 

CD30.R17    The Directing Council

 Having been informed of the initiative of the Governments of Central America and Panama, endorsed in the plan known as "Priority Health Needs in Central America and Panama," which they have drawn up in concert and are jointly and severally committed to executing;

 Bearing in mind the Declaration of the Ministers of Health of Central America and Panama (San José, Costa Rica, 16 March 1984), in which they pledged to keep in place the arrangements for integrating and coordinating institutional resources for the benefit of the health and welfare of Central American families;

 Considering that the Foreign Ministers of the Contadora Group and of the Central American countries, meeting in Panama (30 April 1984), decided to support the plan without reservation;

 Aware that the Thirty-seventh World Health Assembly (9 May 1984) acknowledged1 that the initiative has special importance for social development, for the solution of health problems, and as a bond to foster understanding, solidarity, and peace among the peoples of Central America and Panama at a particularly difficult juncture in their history:

 Noting that the Meeting of Ministers of Health and Directors of Social Security (Medellín, Colombia, 14 July 1984), which was attended by representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Spain, and Venezuela, declared it necessary to encourage mutual support among the Central American countries and other countries pledged to integrating efforts for backing the Central American initiative; and

 Considering that Belize likewise is geographically, culturally, socially, and ecologically a Central American country desirous of being associated with the plan known as "Priority Health Needs in Central America and Panama"; and

 In the conviction, reaffirmed by the Ministers of Health of Central America and Panama at their XXIX Meeting (Guatemala, 23 August 1984) and at this Council, that the successful execution of the plan known as "Priority Health Needs in Central America and Panama" is a prerequisite for the attainment of the goal of health for all by the year 2000 in the Central American Isthmus,

Resolves:

1. To express its full support for the plan known as "Priority Health Needs in Central America and Panama."

2. To recommend to PAHO and to the Member Governments that Belize be included in the plan known as "Priority Health Needs in Central America and Panama," and to request the Director to take the necessary steps to that end.

3. To recommend to the countries of the Region of the Americas that they jointly and severally support the efforts of the countries of Central America and Panama to satisfy their priority health needs in the context of the above-mentioned plan.

4. To recommend to the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau that he continue to provide the plan with special support out of the resources available and take steps to obtain additional extrabudgetary funds.

5. To request the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau to continue, in coordination with UNICEF and other interested international cooperation agencies, to support the efforts of the countries of Central America and Panama to prepare and execute specific projects under the plan.

6. To request the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau to inform all the Member Countries of specific projects under the plan and to promote and administer any contributions that may be offered in support of the initiative of Central America and Panama.

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 49

 

 

CD30.R18    The Directing Council,

 Having examined the Report on the Technical Discussions on increasing the operational capacity of the health services for the attainment of the goal of health for all by the year 2000 (Document CD30/DT/2);1

 Cognizant that both the regional strategies for health for all by the year 2000, approved by the XXVII Meeting of the Directing Council,2 and the Plan of Action for the implementation of regional strategies, approved by the XXVIII Meeting of the Directing Council,3 attach critical importance to strengthening the operational capacity of health services;

 Aware of the restricted economic conditions and the growing challenges to the Member Governments to provide quality services equitably to all the population; and

 Concerned about the political implications of the widening gap between the growing needs and expectations of the population and the financial resources available for health care,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the Report on the Technical Discussions and to express its appreciation to the participants.

2. To recommend to the Member Governments that:

a) In formulating health policy, they assign priority to aspects aimed at achieving equitable conditions for the population, especially the high-risk groups;

b) They take steps to revise the financing structure of the services and to establish the actual composition of health expenditure and to increase the productivity of the sector;

c) They promote research on the functions assigned to the various categories of health personnel, in order to revise and adjust the policies for the training and use of such personnel in health programs and institutions;

d) They take steps to introduce managerial and technological innovations designed to make the health services more effective;

e) They provide opportunities for the communities and the political structures that represent them to participate effectively in decisions relating to health.

3. To recommend to the Director that he:

a) Take the necessary steps to promote and support the actions recommended above to the Member Governments;

b) Foster and support an exchange of views and promote the development of operating arrangements for effective technical cooperation among the countries of the Region for increasing the operational capacity of health services.

Sept.–Oct. 1984 OD 197, 50