FIFTY-FIRST WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY Agenda item 21.1
WHA51.14 16 May 1998
Elimination of transmission of Chagas disease The Fifty-first World Health Assembly, Encouraged by the considerable progress achieved in many countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay towards the elimination of Chagas disease; Recognizing the support to national control activities provided by the national authorities; Acknowledging the decision taken at recent subregional meetings of Ministers of Health of the Andean Region and Central America in Bogotá, and in Tegucigalpa, to launch initiatives in several countries to achieve the elimination of transmission in the above subregions; Aware of the need for additional entomological and epidemiological data to support these initiatives; Aware that the countries in question have set national goals to ensure the interruption of transmission by the year 2010, 1. EXPRESSES its satisfaction with the progress made by Member States in eliminating the transmission of Chagas disease; 2. DECLARES its commitment to the goal of elimination of transmission of Chagas disease by the end of 2010 as technically feasible given appropriate political, technical and economic support; 3. ENDORSES a combined strategy of house disinfestation, blood-bank screening for Trypanosoma cruziinfected blood, active surveillance, health education and community mobilization; 4. CALLS ON all Member States with populations still affected by Chagas disease to determine the full extent of the disease, including vector distribution, behaviour and sensitivity to insecticides, and to elaborate plans of action; establish intercountry technical commissions to initiate certification of elimination; coordinate the contributions of the international community, including multilateral and bilateral agencies and nongovernmental organizations; and explore possibilities for mobilizing additional resources to eliminate the disease within the context of primary health care; 5. INVITES bilateral and international development agencies, nongovernmental organizations, appropriate regional organizations, foundations and other donors to help to ensure that funds are available to accelerate and sustain countries’ efforts to eliminate the disease; 6. URGES the Director-General:
WHA51.14
(1) to support efforts to eliminate transmission of Chagas disease by the year 2010 and to provide WHO certification of elimination country by country; (2) (3) (4) to support Member States in surveillance, programme development and implementation; to continue to seek extrabudgetary resources for this purpose; to report to the 105th session of the Executive Board on the progress achieved.
Tenth plenary meeting, 16 May 1998 A51/VR/10
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