AFR/RC57/R1 30 August 2007 Fifty-seventh session Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, 27–31 August 2007 RESOLUTION
ORIGINAL: FRENCH
RESURGENCE OF CHOLERA IN THE WHO AFRICAN REGION: CURRENT SITUATION AND WAY FORWARD (document AFR/RC57/3) The Regional Committee, Aware of the worsening situation of cholera since the early 1990s in the African Region and its link with poverty and underdevelopment; Recognizing the complexity of cholera prevention and control involving different sectors, civil society, municipalities and communities; Cognizant of the need for national multisectoral programmes to ensure universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation; Acknowledging the need to put in place a multisectoral national cholera coordination mechanism with representation from the key government sectors (health, water, sanitation, fisheries, environment, agriculture, interior, security, education), communities, civil society, private sector, nongovernmental organizations and partners; Concerned with the reactive nature of the health sector response often in the form of emergency response; Having reviewed the document “Resurgence of cholera in the WHO African Region: Current situation and way forward” as well as the report of the Programme Subcommittee relating thereto: 1. 2. ENDORSES the report, “Resurgence of cholera in the WHO African Region: Current situation and way forward”; URGES Members States: (a) (b) to mobilize resources for strengthening programmes for safe water and food supplies and environmental sanitation, thus ensuring improved coverage of these services; to put cholera prevention and control among the priority agendas of governments at the highest level; to ensure multisectoral coordination involving key sectors (health, water, sanitation, fisheries, food hygiene, environment, agriculture, interior, security, education), communities, civil society, private sector, nongovernmental organizations and partners;
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(c) (d)
to develop integrated multisectoral medium– and long-term plans, including environmental sanitation, to resolve the cholera situation in their countries; to strengthen national capacity for surveillance, early detection, investigation, laboratory confirmation, sharing of information and effective response, including case management, for rapid containment of any outbreaks of cholera; to disseminate socioculturally-sensitive health promotion materials targeting different audiences for promoting personal hygiene and healthy behaviours, and changing risky behaviours for cholera; to enhance cross-border collaboration, coordination and timely sharing of information for cholera prevention and control activities;
(e)
(f)
3.
REQUESTS the Regional Director: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) to continue supporting countries in building national capacity in terms of provision of technical updated guidelines and protocols; to provide technical support for the development, execution and evaluation of integrated and comprehensive plans on prevention and control of cholera; to work with partners to mobilize resources in support of implementation of these plans; to support Member States in tracking progress achieved towards prevention and control of cholera in their respective countries; to support countries to strengthen surveillance, information sharing and intercountry collaboration, including cross-border activities.