Representatives of sub-committees [EM/RC9A/R.20]

EM/RC~A/R. 20* !be Sub-Committee, Having held technical discussions on the problem of ankylostomiasis and its control in the Region; Recognizing that ankylostondasis is a major health problem and is one of the most important parasitic diseases in this Region; Noting that social environment is a maJor consideration in the maintenance of Its endemicity: Fully aware that the disease constitutes an important bio-social problem which needs f'urther expansion of our efforts if a complete solution is to be faund, 1. URGES Member States to approach fihe problem on the broad lines of human ecology, integrating control measures into the national economic development plana for raising living standards$ 2. EMPHASIZES the need for survey of the basic factors involved in the epidemiology of the disease, the management of sanitation, and the production of effective and safe remedies for campaign treatmant of ankylostondasis; 3. STRESSES the desirability of a team approach as an integral part of all ankylostomlasis control prograrnnes, in settling the various factors responsible for the spraad of the disease, whether social, agricultural, sanitary, induatrlal (especially mining), or nutritional; 4. RECOMMEND3 that pilot projects wlth well-defined obJectives be developed as part of country-wide programnes to test new sohemes and to seek new solutions on a reasonable scale; 5. RECO- that the development of evaluation and organizational procedure, and of objective yardsticks for measuring progress, should receive high priority amongst the studies made at WHO-assisted pilot projects; 6. RECO?%4ENDS that tn countries where ankylostomiasis constitutes a public health problem, inter-departmental co-ordination cornnittees or councils consisting of representatives of public health, mmicipal or rural sanitation, agriculture, industries, connunity development departments as well as educational, administrative and local government authorities and any other relevant authorities, be established to deal with the problem. September 1959