RESOLUTIONS

CSP22.R1 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having seen the report of the Director on the collection of quota contributions (Document CSP22/16 and Add. I) and taking into consideration the concerns expressed by the 97th Meeting of the Executive Committee1 with respect to Member Countries subject to Article 6.B who have not met their commitments for liquidation of their quota arrearages;

 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 in a timely manner (Document CSP22/16, Add. II);

 Recognizing that, in the case of the three Member Governments subject to Article 6.B, the Government of Haiti has continued to make payments towards its prior years' assessments, but that it has been unable to fully meet all of its payment commitments, and that the Government of Paraguay has presented a revised deferred payment plan which is acceptable to the Secretariat and the Article 6.B Working Party, as well as having made payments under its original payment plan; and

 Noting specifically that the Article 6.B Working Party was in consensus that Article 6.B should be applied to the Dominican Republic, but also noting the Working Party's determination that the provisions of Article 6.A of the Constitution and the absence of an officially accredited Delegation from the Dominican Republic constitutionally precluded the application of Article 6.B at this time,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the report of the Director on the collection of quota contributions (Document CSP22/16 and Add. I).

2. To express appreciation to Member Governments that have already made payments in 1986, and to urge all Member Governments in arrears to fulfill their financial obligations to the Organization in a prompt manner.

3. To permit the Government of Haiti to vote at this Pan American Sanitary Conference, in view of its efforts to comply with its payment commitments.

4. To permit the Government of Paraguay to vote at this Pan American Sanitary Conference, and to endorse the acceptance of the Government's revised deferred payment plan.

5. To instruct the Article 6.B Working Party to reconvene and provide its recommendation to the Conference in the event that an accredited Delegation from the Dominican Republic is present at this Conference.

6. To request the Director:

a) To continue to monitor the implementation of special payment agreements made by Member Governments in arrears for the payment of prior years' quota assessments, with particular attention to the case of the Dominican Republic;

b) To advise the Executive Committee of Member Countries' compliance with their quota payment commitments;

c) To report to the XXXII Meeting of the Directing Council on the status of the collection of quota contributions for 1987 and prior years.

September 1986 OD 211, 128

 

 

 

CSP22.R2 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Bearing in mind Articles 4.E and 21.A of the Constitution of the Pan American Health Organization, which provide that the Pan American Sanitary Bureau shall have a Director elected at the Conference by the vote of a majority of the Governments of the Organization;

 Bearing in mind Article 4 of the Agreement between the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization and Articles 49 and 52 of the Constitution of the World Health Organization, which establish the procedure for the appointment of Regional Directors of the World Health Organization; and

 Satisfied that the election of the Director of the Bureau has been held in accordance with the established procedure,

Resolves:

1. To declare Dr. Carlyle Guerra de Macedo elected Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau for a period of four years to begin 1 February 1987.

2. To submit to the Executive Board of the World Health Organization the name of Dr. Carlyle Guerra de Macedo for appointment as Regional Director for the Americas.

September 1986 OD 211, 129

 

 

 

CSP22.R3 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Taking account of the interest expressed by the Government of Portugal in establishing arrangements for direct cooperation with the Pan American Health Organization and in obtaining observer status in the Organization;

 Bearing in mind Resolution XXVII of the XXVIII Meeting of the Directing Council, which establishes the criteria for the granting of observer status in PAHO to non-American States having no territory in the Americas;

 Considering that these criteria are extremely limiting and restrictive in respect of requests such as that of the Portuguese Government;

 Cognizant of the very close historical and sociocultural ties that bind the Portuguese nation to the American Hemisphere; and

 Having seen the report presented by the Director (Document CSP22/7) establishing new requirements and procedures to govern the granting to countries of observer status in PAHO,

Resolves:

1. To rescind Resolution XXVII of the XXVIII Meeting of the Directing Council.

2. To approve the following requirements, procedures and privileges for States requesting and obtaining observer status in PAHO:

A. Prerequisites

a) The requesting State must have historical and cultural ties to the Region of the Americas;

b) The requesting State must show interest in participating in and contributing to inter-American institutions;

c) The requesting State must make a technical or financial contribution to PAHO's technical cooperation programs.

B. Processing Steps

a) The requesting State must present its request at least 60 days in advance of the date set for the meeting of the Executive Committee to which it is to be presented, stating the reasons on which the request is based, as provided in paragraphs a), b) and c), above;

b) The Executive Committee will consider the request in relation to the provisions of paragraphs a), b) and c), above, and make an appropriate recommendation to the Conference or Directing Council;

c) The Conference or Directing Council, as appropriate, will decide whether the requesting State is to be granted observer status in PAHO.

C. Privileges

 Countries granted observer status in PAHO shall enjoy the privileges of:

a) Attending public sessions of the Governing Bodies and public sessions of the committees and working groups of those Governing Bodies, the costs of such attendance to be borne by the observer country;

b) Participating, by leave of the Chairman, in the discussions of the Governing Bodies, but without the right to vote. They may not, however, make proposals of substance or procedural motions or requests, raise points of order, or impugn the decisions of the Chairman;

c) Receiving documents prepared for the meetings of the Governing Bodies and other technical and scientific publications of interest to the observer country;

d) Establishing technical and financial cooperation relations with the Organization through the Pan American Sanitary Bureau.

September 1986 OD 211, 130

 

 

CSP22.R4 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having in mind that in June 1985 the Government of Portugal presented a request for observer status in the Pan American Health Organization;

 Considering that Portugal fully meets the conditions precedent established by the XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference (Resolution III); and

 Having seen Resolution XV of the 97th Meeting of the Executive Committee,

Resolves:

1. As an exception in this case, to waive the requirements established in subparagraph a), paragraph 2.B of Resolution III of the XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference.

2. To welcome with satisfaction the request of the Government of Portugal, and to grant it observer status in the Pan American Health Organization.

3. To recommend to the Director that he promote technical cooperation between Portugal and the countries of the Americas.

4. To request the Director to transmit the present decision to the Government of Portugal and to the Member Governments of the Organization.

September 1986 OD 211, 132

 

 

 

CSP22.R5 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having seen the Annual Report of the Chairman of the Executive Committee (Document CSP22/5) on the work of the Committee from September 1985 to date, the period during which the 96th and 97th 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 CSP22/5).

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

September 1986 OD 211, 132

 

CSP22.R6 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having considered Document CSP22/20 and the tentative request for US$62,970,900 from the World Health Organization for the Region of the Americas for the biennium 1988–1989, that includes an estimated cost increase of 8.8%, and

 Noting the recommendation1 made by the 97th Meeting of the Executive Committee,

Resolves:

 To request the Director to transmit to the Director-General of WHO the request for US$62,970,900 for the Region of the Americas for the biennium 1988–1989 for consideration by the WHO Executive Board and the World Health Assembly.

September 1986 OD 211, 133

 

 

CSP22.R7 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having seen the Annual Report, 1985, and Quadrennial Report, 1982–1985, of the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau (Official Document 207) on the work of PAHO during the interval between the XXI and XXII Pan American Sanitary Conferences;

 Considering that the crisis of the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean profoundly affects the health status of their peoples, and the solutions proposed hitherto have been primarily economic in nature, and have given insufficient attention to the social sector;

 Recognizing that the countries face a considerable challenge in the need to upgrade their public administration systems, especially those in the health sector, so that they will function more effectively by using available resources more efficiently;

 Aware that the crisis affecting the international cooperation agencies is rooted in policy changes in the approach to external cooperation on the part of the leading contributing or donor countries, as well as in deficiencies of the internal management of the international agencies and in how their cooperation is provided to Member Countries;

 Considering that in the last four years the Secretariat has made important efforts to cope with the aforementioned problems under the guidance of the working principles laid down in its Regional Program Budget Policy and in the Managerial Strategy for the Optimum Use of PAHO/WHO Resources in Direct Support of Member Countries; and

 Recognizing that these efforts have been expressed in sub-regional initiatives on health priorities, in an increase of contacts among countries and institutions, in more effective and substantive mobilization of internal and external resources, and in adjustments within the Secretariat to enhance its efficiency,

Resolves:

1. To urge the Member Countries to redouble their efforts to define national policies and priorities for the serious problems of coverage in the health field, inefficient use of resources, and the inequity and high cost of medical care systems, so that the Organization may direct its resources toward measures of highest impact in the advancement of health toward the goal of health for all.

2. To thank the Director of the PASB for the important report on activities in the quadrennium 1982–1985, which attests to the great magnitude of the effort made by the Secretariat to overhaul the operations of PAHO and adjust them to the present situation, while seeking new forms of technical cooperation.

3. To recommend to the Director that he continue his efforts at the highest national and international policy levels to bring about real recognition of the importance of social development as an essential component of economic growth, and therefore of the need to integrate the social sector, and especially health, into overall development plans.

4. To recommend to the Director that the work be continued for development of the Secretariat as a necessary condition for increasing the efficient use of its resources, highlighting as fundamental purposes the strengthening of the planning, programming, monitoring and evaluation system; the deepening of relations with the governments and of their participation in the affairs of the Organization; the improvement of its administrative systems; and modernization of the policies and systems for use of the Organization's own manpower.

5. To request the Director to continue improving the structure and content of his Report so that it may become a fundamental element in evaluating the operations of the Bureau and the Organization.

September 1986 OD 211, 134

 

 

CSP22.R8 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 

 Bearing in mind that the composition of the Joint Coordinating Board of the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases is to include 12 members selected by the WHO Regional Committees from among those countries directly affected by the diseases dealt with by the Special Program, or from among those countries providing technical or scientific support to the Program, and that one of them must be selected by the Regional Committee for the Americas in 1986 for a three-year term beginning 1 January 1987; and

 In view of the outcome of the vote taken to select that country,

Resolves:

1. To select the Government of Cuba to designate a representative to serve on the Joint Coordinating Board for three years.

2. To request the Director to inform WHO of this resolution.

September 1986 OD 211, 135

 

 

 

CSP22.R9 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Bearing in mind that the composition of Category B members to the Policy and Coordination Advisory Committee of the Special Program of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction is to include 12 Member Countries selected by the WHO Regional Committees from among those countries that provide financial and/or technical support to the program, as well as have interest in human reproduction, as demonstrated by national policies;

 Considering that two Member Countries must be selected with different tenure periods by the Regional Committee for the Americas; and

 In view of the outcome of the vote taken to select those countries,

Resolves:

1. To select the Government of Argentina for the period starting now and ending 31 December 1988, and the Government of the United States of America for the period starting now and ending 31 December 1989, to serve on the Policy and Coordination Advisory Committee of the Special Program of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction.

2. To request the Director to inform WHO of this resolution.

September 1986 OD 211, 136

 

 

 

CSP22.R10 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference elected Ecuador, Saint Lucia, and the United States of America to the Executive Committee upon termination of the periods of office of Canada, Costa Rica, and Dominica, and thanked the Governments of these countries for the services rendered to the Organization by their representatives on the Committee.

Sept. 1986 OD 211, 137

 

 

 

CSP22.R11 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having been informed of the initiative for health in the Caribbean known as "Caribbean Cooperation in Health," developed by PAHO and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at the request of the Ninth Meeting of the Conference of Ministers Responsible for Health in the Caribbean, held at Roseau, Dominica, 1984;

 Considering that the Caribbean Ministers of Health attending the XXXI Meeting of the Directing Council of PAHO in Washington, D.C., September 1985, gave unanimous support to the plan presented by PAHO and CARICOM,1 and agreed to actively promote and develop the initiative within their countries;

 Noting that the Caribbean Ministers at the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of Ministers Responsible for Health in the Caribbean (CMH) held at Georgetown, Guyana, in 1986, formally endorsed the initiative and its objectives, priorities, and approaches;

 Appreciating that the English-speaking Caribbean countries share a common history, have had a long tradition of cooperation in matters of culture, education, health and economic development, noteworthy examples of which are subregional institutions such as the CARICOM itself, the University of the West Indies, and the Caribbean Development Bank;

 Aware that this initiative is an application of the subregional approach utilized by PAHO in its delivery of technical cooperation in the Caribbean, as exemplified by the Caribbean Program Coordinator's Office, the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute, and the Caribbean Epidemiology Center;

 Accepting that the six priority areas identified and agreed on for the development of the initiative are those reflected in the subregional policy statements, strategies, and plans of action previously endorsed by the Caribbean Ministers of Health; and

 Convinced that the successful execution of Caribbean Cooperation in Health will be an important contribution to the attainment of health for the peoples of the Caribbean subregion and to the global goal of health for all by the year 2000,

Resolves:

1. To endorse the initiative known as "Caribbean Cooperation in Health" and to request the Member Countries to provide their full support to CARICOM and the Ministries of Health in the implementation of this initiative.

2. To encourage the Member Countries of the Caribbean subregion to emphasize the Plan for Caribbean Cooperation in Health as the focus for the development of their proposals for technical cooperation.

3. To request the Director:

a) to support the initiative within the regular programs of technical cooperation of the Organization;

b) to cooperate fully with CARICOM and the Member Countries of the Caribbean subregion in the development of projects under the initiative;

c) to inform all Member Countries of the specific projects under the initiative;

d) to continue to promote the initiative in major international fora, with other international organizations and with interested multilateral and bilateral development agencies in order to obtain their support for these projects.

4. To inform the Director-General of the World Health Organization about the Caribbean Cooperation in Health initiative and to request his support for its continued development.

September 1986 OD 211, 137

 

 

CSP22.R12 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having reviewed the Regional Forward-Looking Strategies on Women, Health and Development prepared by the Special Subcommittee on Women, Health and Development and endorsed by the 97th Meeting of the Executive Committee;1

 Reaffirming the commitment of the Member Countries and the UN specialized agencies to the "Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women to the Year 2000" adopted by consensus at the World Conference on Women in Nairobi, in particular paragraphs 148 to 162;

 Noting and supporting Resolution WHA39.182 of the World Health Assembly which endorses the Forward-Looking Strategies, advocates cooperation with other UN organizations in the implementation of the Strategies, and requests a report to the Fortieth World Health Assembly on activities undertaken to implement the Strategies;

 Reaffirming the importance of all previous PAHO resolutions on Women, Health and Development, especially Resolution XIV of the XXXI Meeting of the Directing Council, which requests the Director of PASB to elaborate Regional Forward-Looking Strategies to be integrated into plans of action on women, health and development as part of the health for all by the year 2000 strategies;

 Reiterating that women's active participation as agents and beneficiaries is crucial to the attainment of health for all by the year 2000 in this Region and that the Women, Health and Development Program is an integral component of these efforts; and

 Reaffirming the urgent need to improve the health of women in the Region and their access to quality health care,

Resolves:

1. To approve the Regional Forward-Looking Strategies on Women, Health and Development proposed by the 97th Meeting of the Executive Committee.

2. To urge the Member Countries:

a) to develop specific plans of action on women, health and development for the next five years (1986–1990) based on the proposed Forward-Looking Strategies;

b) to strengthen national focal points on women, health and development by delegating authority to them and providing them with the resources needed to best carry out their functions;

c) to ensure collaboration of interdisciplinary and intersectoral bodies in the implementation of national plans of action on women, health and development;

d) to make maximum efforts to improve women's health conditions, giving special emphasis to:

i) reducing the unacceptably high maternal mortality rates that still exist within many Member Countries;

ii) strengthening efforts to reduce cancer mortality in women;

iii) reducing the specific health risks of working women through workers' health programs; and

iv) improving conditions affecting women's mental health;

e) to ensure that health services meet women's needs and to improve their access to health care;

f) to establish mechanisms for improved collaboration with nongovernmental organizations especially for women in developing activities on women, health and development.

3. To request the Director:

a) to reaffirm PAHO's commitment to the Regional Program on Women, Health and Development, taking the actions necessary to implement the Regional Forward-Looking Strategies, paying special attention to the following actions:

i) strengthening the Program's focal points in the PAHO Country Offices;

ii) establishing mechanisms for exchanging experiences among national focal points;

iii) strengthening existing support mechanisms, in the Organization for implementation of the Women, Health and Development Program;

iv) increasing mobilization of the resources required for the implementation of the proposed strategies; and

v) stimulating collaboration with other agencies to coordinate activities and mobilize additional resources;

b) to prepare a regional contribution to the progress report requested by the World Health Assembly in its Resolution WHA39.18, taking into consideration the strategies proposed by the Executive Committee and the most recent report submitted by the Special Subcommittee on Women, Health and Development;

c) to establish a panel of experts in the Region to assist PAHO and the Member Governments in the implementation of the Regional Forward-Looking Strategies;

d) to encourage a more equal participation of women on all PASB committees;

e) to develop a plan to reach the target of 30% representation of women in professional and higher posts in PAHO.

September 1986 OD 211, 139

 

 

CSP22.R13 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having seen the report on the International Program on Chemical Safety (Document CSP22/18);

 Considering the information available on the important health problems created in the countries of the Region by the extensive use of chemicals;

 Aware of the growing importance of preventing the adverse effects of those chemicals on health and the environment; and

 Cognizant of the need to initiate and strengthen concrete measures for reducing the existing problems,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the document presented, which contains an evaluative study of the chemical safety situation in the Region, and a medium-term program in this regard.

2. To recommend to the Member Countries the establishment or strengthening of measures for coordination of national programs for the identification, evaluation, prevention and control of hazards to health and the environment associated with the use of chemicals.

3. To encourage the Member Countries that have already started programs to share with other countries, in collaboration with PAHO/WHO, information about their experience and progress.

4. To convey to the Director its satisfaction with the effort made in preparing this document, and to thank the Member Countries for their valuable contributions.

5. To request the Director to implement, to the extent that the Organization's resources allow, the specific activities of the medium-term program proposed in the document.

September 1986 OD 211, 141

 

CSP22.R14 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having examined the Financial Report of the Director and Report of the External Auditor for the biennium 1984–1985 (Official Document 205 and Add. I and II);

 Noting the report1 of the 97th Meeting of the Executive Committee on its review of the financial statements and schedules of the Organization as contained in Official Document 205, particularly its concerns relating to the status of quota payments, the continuation of problems in the Organization's computerized systems, professional vacancy rates, and the financial situations of the Caribbean Epidemiology Center and the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute;

 Taking into consideration the recommendation2 of the 97th Meeting of the Executive Committee to approve the allocation of $22,210 in surplus income from the 1984–1985 financial period to the PAHO Building Fund; and

 Expressing concern over the slow rate of quota payments during 1984–1985, while recognizing that, in spite of this, the Organization has continued to maintain a satisfactory financial situation,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the Financial Report of the Director and Report of the External Auditor for the biennium 1984–1985 (Official Document 205 and Add. I and II).

2. To endorse the comments and concerns expressed by the 97th Meeting of the Executive Committee in its report on the financial condition of the Organization as of 31 December 1985.

3. To approve the allocation of surplus income in the amount of $22,210 to the PAHO Building Fund, established to defray the costs of major maintenance and repairs to PAHO facilities.

4. To commend the Director for having maintained the Organization in a satisfactory financial condition in spite of the slow rate of quota payments.

September 1986 OD 211, 142

 

 

CSP22.R15 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having examined the material prepared for the contribution of the Region of the Americas to the draft Eighth General Program of Work of the World Health Organization (1990–1995 inclusive) (Document CSP22/22); and

 Bearing in mind that the Director-General of WHO has requested this material from each Regional Committee to ensure that their views are properly taken into account by the Program Committee of the Executive Board in the preparation of the draft Eighth General Program of Work,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the summary of the material prepared as a regional contribution to the Eighth General Program of Work of WHO.

2. To request the Director to forward the draft document to the Director-General along with the comments of the Regional Committee to be used in the preparation of the draft Eighth General Program of Work.

September 1986 OD 211, 143

 

 

CSP22.R16 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having seen the document presented by the Director on the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (1981–1990)-Regional Progress;

 Recalling Resolution XXII of the XXVI Meeting of the Directing Council of PAHO (1979) as well as Resolutions WHA36.131 (1983) and WHA39.202 (1986) of the World Health Assembly, in which it is recognized that drinking water supply and sanitation are essential to the success of the global strategy for health for all by the year 2000 and that the Decade assigns priority to marginal urban and low-income rural populations;

 Noting the efforts made by the Governments, the degree of external support, and the progress made by the Decade program to date:

 Noting further the need to change the trends of coverage seen in the first half of the Decade, which indicate that several countries in the Region will be unable to reach the goals they have set for themselves, and that special efforts will be required if more progress is to be made in the final five years; and

 Taking into account the recommendations in the report of the Director in regard to the participation of health authorities in drinking water supply and sanitation programs through intersectoral collaboration, and for effective cooperation with external cooperation agencies,

Resolves:

1. To urge the Member Countries:

a) To make a greater political commitment to attainment of the goals of the Decade, including incorporation of their national water supply and sanitation plans in their national economic and social development plans;

b) To improve water quality, including fluoridation, and to extend the coverage of sewerage and excreta disposal services to levels comparable to those of water supply services;

c) To promote and support the provision of drinking water and sanitation as essential components of primary health care;

d) To ensure intersectoral collaboration and coordination among national entities, international organizations and bilateral agencies and other participants in the Decade in order to optimize efforts:

e) To foster the administrative and technical development of the institutions responsible for water supply and sanitation services, including their human resources, so that they may carry out the functions of planning, execution and, in particular, operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of the services;

f) To promote the control of losses and the efficient use of water in integration with institutional development so as to optimize the use of installed capacity and extend the drinking water supply systems to serve the largest possible proportion of the population;

g) To ensure the participation of the community, and especially of women, in all stages-the planning, building, management, operation and maintenance-of the development of these services:

h) To identify and mobilize on a large scale the national and local financial, human, technical and administrative resources by means of innovative strategies so as to reduce costs.

2. To urge the international cooperation and financing agencies:

a) To continue giving high priority to drinking water supply and sanitation, and to increase the proportion of the funds they allocate for the financing of services, especially for the urban and rural poor;

b) To increase the proportion of the funds they allocate to institutional and manpower development, to operation, maintenance and rehabilitation, to public information, to sanitary education, and to community participation;

c) To continue their efforts to improve coordination and exchanges of information at the country and regional levels with national establishments and other interested external agencies.

3. To request the Director:

a) To continue supporting the countries in the development of their programs on the Decade, with special emphasis on intersectoral coordination and action with other external agencies;

b) To continue supporting the promotion of research in the health aspects of drinking water supply and sanitation programs and in the use of these services as well as in the development of low-cost technology;

c) To continue supporting the development of drinking water supply and sanitation institutions, including their human resources, and in particular to promote and support efforts to make more efficient use of the installed capacity of drinking water supply systems;

d) To continue supporting the development of Decade programs in the countries with a subregional approach that reinforces the national effort;

e) To publicize the experiences of the countries in community participation, the mobilization of resources, appropriate technology, operation and maintenance, and other important aspects, and to encourage exchanges of information;

f) To continue monitoring progress in drinking water supply and sanitation and give support in strengthening the management information systems of the countries.

September 1986 OD 211, 144

 

 

CSP22.R17 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having seen the report of the Director on the Program of Food Protection and the report1 of the 97th Meeting of the Executive Committee;

 Noting that this Program and its associated Plan of Action were designed and developed in compliance with Resolution XVII of the XXXI Meeting of the Directing Council of PAHO, held in 1985; and

 Aware that well designed and executed food protection programs are imperative in the countries of the Region for the provision of foods that are safe and of good quality, thereby protecting the health of their populations, avoiding considerable food losses, and mitigating the severe economic consequences of the rejection of foods that are exported, all of which work greatly against the economic development and well-being of the countries,

Resolves:

1. To urge the Member Countries:

a) To give higher priority to the establishment or strengthening of national food protection programs;

b) To increase the intersectoral coordination of national food protection activities;

c) To increase the resources allocated to the development of national food protection programs;

d) To increase cooperation with other countries in the Region in aspects in which they are most advanced;

e) To support the efforts that PAHO may undertake with international financing agencies, multilateral and bilateral cooperation agencies, and industrial firms, for the purpose of augmenting the resources available for technical cooperation in food protection activities with the countries in the Region;

f) To strengthen the efforts targeted to establishing necessary laws and regulations to ensure adequate implementation of national food protection programs.

2. To request the Director:

a) To continue supporting food protection and safety activities;

b) To continue coordination with and seek financial support from the international financing agencies and the multilateral and bilateral agencies, and with the prevate sector, for increased technical cooperation with the countries in food protection.

September 1986 OD 211, 146

 

 

CSP22.R18 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having seen Document CSP22/12, "Relations with Nongovernmental Organizations at the Regional and National Levels," presented by the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau;

 Considering Decision 81 of the 77th Session of the Executive Board of WHO, which requests the Regional Committees to examine Section 5 of the revised Working Principles governing admission of nongovernmental organizations into official relations with WHO, which bears on regional and national nongovernmental organizations;

 Considering that Resolution XX of the XX Pan American Sanitary Conference, "Mechanisms for the Establishment of Official Relations between PAHO and Inter-American Nongovernmental Organizations," is compatible with Section 5 of the report on the Working Principles for establishing official relations between nongovernmental organizations and WHO; and

 Considering that several inter-American nongovernmental organizations, which are equivalent to regional nongovernmental organizations, have entered into official relations with PAHO and maintain working relations with it,

Resolves:

1. To express its agreement with the content of Section 5 of the WHO Working Principles governing relations with nongovernmental organizations contained in the report of the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations of the Executive Board of WHO.

2. To request the Director:

a) To report to the 79th Session of the Executive Board of WHO on Resolution XX of the XX Pan American Sanitary Conference and on the inter-American nongovernmental organizations in official relations with PAHO;

b) To continue encouraging regional and national nongovernmental organizations to participate in application of the strategies for health for all by the year 2000, and to make use as appropriate of the working relations between the Organization and those nongovernmental organizations;

c) To transmit the present resolution to the 79th Session of the Executive Board of WHO.

September 1986 OD 211, 147

 

 

CSP22.R19 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having reviewed the Director's report (Document CSP22/28) on the local hiring of personnel;

 Considering that the Organization possesses, in its own right, the legal capacity needed to issue its own legally binding rules on the appointment, qualifications, rights and obligations of its employees, and further possesses within the territory of each of its Member Countries the status of juridical person, endowing it with the capacity to take legal actions and enter into agreements of any nature; and

 Mindful that these two capacities make it legally possible and fitting to establish two categories of personnel in the Organization, the first comprised of international staff members, whether internationally or locally recruited, who will continue to be governed, as hitherto, by the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules of PASB, and the second, created by means of this resolution, consisting of national staff members appointed to such posts as the Director shall determine, who shall be governed in all their relations with the Organization by the labor laws and practices of the country in which they serve. This new category of personnel shall replace that of the present contractors and consultants in cases in which there actually exists an employer/employee relationship, and personnel in this category shall be referred to as national staff members because their conditions of employment shall be governed, in fact and in law, by the labor legislation and practices of the countries in which they serve,

Resolves:

1. That effective immediately until 30 September 1989 (unless a differing recommendation be made by the Executive Committee in the interim), the Staff Regulations of PASB shall be amended as follows:

1.12 The Bureau may hire under local conditions of employment national staff members (nationals of the country and aliens, whether residents or not, who legally qualify for employment there), to whom the Staff Regulations and Rules shall not apply save in regard to the present Article I on Duties, Obligations and Privileges as national employees and not as international functionaries. Respecting privileges, such employees shall be governed by the Basic Agreement on Privileges and Immunities between the Organization and the country in which they are employed.

1.13 The contracts of such national employees shall be governed in every aspect, including those of work-related accidents, social security and pensions, by the labor laws and practices of the country concerned.

1.14 The Director shall determine the posts to be subject to these rules and shall establish scales of salaries and allowances, in conformity with competitive conditions of employment of the locality in the type of work performed or related to the functions of the office.

1.15 National employees shall have access to arbitration or labor tribunals of the countries in which they are employed for the settlement of disputes, in accordance with their respective contracts, and shall therefore have no access to the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labor Organization, whose competence is not recognized in respect of national employees.

2. To request the Director to issue such rules as he may deem appropriate to regulate contracts of this type for national personnel, subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee pursuant to Staff Rule 015.2, and to incorporate them into the Staff Rules.

3. To request the Director to provide the Executive Committee with annual interim reports on the implementation of these amendments to the Staff Regulations, and with a full report, prior to 31 May 1989, to include such matters as identification of the positions involved, the cost implications, administrative adjustments, and general operations of the system of hiring under local conditions of employment, together with his recommendations regarding this new system.

4. To request the Director, pending completion of the review by the Executive Committee in 1989, to implement these amendments on a limited basis and to exclude from the application thereof any currently established posts under the Staff Rules and Regulations which are not or do not become vacant, unless the Executive Committee decides otherwise in advance.

5. To delegate to the Executive Committee the authority to determine if these amendments to the Staff Regulations shall remain in effect after 30 September 1989.

September 1986 OD 211, 148

 

 

CSP22.R20 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having seen the information received from the Director on the excellent work done by the National Library of Medicine of the United States of America, which is completing its 150th year of service to the world scientific community;

 Cognizant of its contribution to the development and operation of the Latin American and Caribbean Center for Health Sciences Information (BIREME) and of PAHO's access to the MEDLARS system; and

 Wishing to commemorate this important anniversary by paying well-earned tribute to the National Library of Medicine,

Resolves:

1. To take cognizance of the support that the National Library of Medicine of the United States of America has unfailingly given to PAHO and its Member Countries.

2. To transmit to the Director of the National Library of Medicine and its staff its warmest congratulations and wishes for success in its invaluable efforts on behalf of the health sciences.

September 1986 OD 211, 150

 

 

CSP22.R21 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having considered Document CSP22/6, "Orientation and Program Priorities for PAHO during the Quadrennium 1987–1990," and the comments1 of the 97th Meeting of the Executive Committee;

 Bearing in mind the constitutional role of the Pan American Sanitary Conference to determine the general policies of the Organization;

 Recognizing the benefits of establishing program priorities in order to enhance the mission of the Organization, to strengthen technical cooperation, and to guide the allocation of available resources within the context of the PAHO/WHO strategies for health for all by the year 2000, the Plan of Action for the implementation of the regional strategies, the managerial strategy for the optimum use of PAHO's resources, and the regional program budget policy; and

 Taking note of the publication Health Conditions in the Americas, 1981–1984,2 and recognizing the current financial situation of the Organization,

Resolves:

1. To approve the document "Orientation and Program Priorities for PAHO during the Quadrennium 1987–1990," presented by the Director to the XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference.

2. To request the Director:

a. To transmit the document "Orientation and Program Priorities for PAHO during the Quadrennium 1987–1990" to the Member Countries;

b) To apply the program priorities contained therein in the formulation of the biennial regular program budget proposals and in the approval of annual operating program budgets during the quadrennium 1987–1990.

3. Recognizing the importance of the health infrastructure in promoting the implementation of priority health programs, to request the Director and the Member Countries, in pursuing the minimum goals of the Plan of Action for health for all by the year 2000, to give special attention to:

a) Strengthening of the health services infastructures;

b) Development of the health sector's financial analysis and resource management capabilities;

c) Improvement of national health information systems;

d) Definition of the roles of health workers, recognition of the importance of community participation, and integration of health manpower education and training.

4. To request the Member Countries to implement the Organization's program priorities for the quadrennium 1987–1990 in the development of their country program proposals for technical cooperation during the years cited.

5. To request the Director to transmit the document to the Director-General of WHO for his consideration.

September 1986 OD 211, 151

 

CSP22.R22 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having seen the document presented to the Conference on the Andean Subregion, Joint Plan of Action (Document CSP22/14);

 Cognizant that health problems exist in the Andean area that are common to all the countries;

 Considering that the Governments of this area have established the Cartagena Agreement for the purpose of improving the standard of living of their inhabitants, and the Hipólito Unanue Agreement to help improve the level of health through coordinated subregional and intercountry measures;

 Mindful of the meetings of the Ministers of the Andean area in which the necessity of optimizing the use of resources in the solution of priority problems has been reiterated;

 Recognizing that initiatives have been going forward successfully in other subregions of the Region of the Americas, and that their experience could be useful in the Andean area; and

 Cognizant that a first draft of the Joint Plan of Action for this subregion was presented to the Executive Committee, which viewed it with favor,

Resolves:

1. To support the formulation and execution of a joint plan of action for the Andean area.

2. To request the governments of the subregion to support this initiative, especially as it contributes to the mobilization of resources for the selected priority areas.

3. To request the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau to support, in conjunction with the Hipólito Unanue Agreement, the efforts of the Member Countries, and to promote with other appropriate agencies the external cooperation needed to support the Joint Plan of Action.

4. To request the Director to report on progress to the next meeting of the Directing Council in 1987.

September 1986 OD 211, 152

 

CSP22.R23 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having considered the report presented by the Director on the progress made by the Member Countries in the use of technical and economic cooperation among developing countries (TCDC/ECDC) with the support of PAHO/WHO (Document CSP22/11);

 Bearing in mind Resolution III of the XXX Meeting of the Directing Council (1984) and Resolution XXI of the XXXI Meeting of the Directing Council (1985) concerning the promotion of TCDC/ECDC in the health sector with collaboration of PAHO/WHO; and

 Aware that it has become increasingly evident that one of the long-term strategies to overcome the effects of the economic crisis in the Region of the Americas and to promote self-reliance is the undertaking of collective and bilateral actions, using the mechanism of TCDC/ECDC,

Resolves:

1. To urge Member Countries to take the necessary legal, financial, institutional and administrative steps to facilitate collective and bilateral actions, using the mechanism of TCDC/ECDC to address the current problems undermining their socioeconomic development, particularly in the health sector.

2. To request Member Countries and the Director to continue, on a permanent basis, studying, monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of this mechanism for stimulating individual country and collective self-reliance in the health sector.

3. To request the Director to report periodically to the Governing Bodies on the progress achieved by the Member Countries and by the Organization in this area.

September 1986 OD 211, 153

 

 

CSP22.R24 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having examined the Progress Report by the Director on the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) (Document CSP22/24 and Add. I) and its inspection by the 97th Meeting of the Executive Committee;

 Noting the progress made by the Member Countries and at the regional level following the decisions to accelerate EPI and to adopt the Plan of Action for the Eradication of Indigenous Transmission of Wild Poliovirus from the Americas by 1990; and

 Recognizing the efforts that have been made to secure the extrabudgetary funds necessary for the implementation of the program, as called for in the Plan of Action,

Resolves:

1. To reaffirm the strong commitment of the Pan American Health Organization to the achievement of the goals of the Expanded Program on Immunization by 1990.

2. To express appreciation for the increased international support for EPI in the Americas, in particular the strong advocacy and financial support pledged by UNICEF, Rotary International, and most recently by the United States Agency for International Development to the Plan of Action for the Eradication of Indigenous Transmission of Wild Poliovirus.

3. To urge other multilateral, bilateral and nongovernmental organizations to offer their support to the Program as suggested in the Plan of Action.

4. To urge Member Countries to strengthen their efforts in relation to the EPI in each country and seek the allocation of the necessary national resources for the achievement of the established goals.

5. To request the Director to continue the efforts of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau to obtain full funding for accelerating the EPI and for implementing the Plan of Action for the Eradication of Indigenous Transmission of Wild Poliovirus and inform on the progress of the plan at the 1988 meeting of the Directing Council.

6. To congratulate the Director and all the agencies involved on the coordination achieved in support of the program.

September 1986 OD 211, 154

 

CSP22.R25 The XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference,

 Having considered the Director's report on the introduction and establishment of Aedes albopictus in two countries of the Region of the Americas (Document CSP22/INF/3);

 Bearing in mind the multiple biological attributes which would qualify Aedes albopictus as an additional efficient vector of dengue, and possibly of yellow fever and some arboviral encephalitides in this Region;

 Recognizing the imminent risk and urgent necessity to prevent its further spread, and to control or eliminate already existing infestations; and

 Concerned by the deterioration of existing country programs for the control or eradication of Aedes aegypti and the reinfestation of the Member Countries,

Resolves:

1. To request Member Countries to take note of the seriousness of the problem and to support activities initiated by PAHO towards its solution.

2. To recommend to Member Countries that they initiate or continue the necessary actions for effective surveillance of Aedes albopictus and measures to prevent its further dissemination or to eradicate it, if possible.

3. To urge the Director of the PASB to prepare a Plan of Action to combat Aedes albopictus in the Region of the Americas: to support the activities of Member Countries for early detection, surveillance and control of this vector; to promote research necessary to improve control measures; and to present this plan to the Executive Committee at its meeting in June 1987.

September 1986 OD 211, 155