128th Session Agenda item 4.12
EB128.R6 20 January 2011
Eradication of dracunculiasis The Executive Board, Having considered the report on dracunculiasis;1 RECOMMENDS to the Sixty-fourth World Health Assembly, the adoption of the following resolution:2 The Sixty-fourth World Health Assembly, Having considered the report on dracunculiasis,1 Recalling resolutions WHA39.21 and WHA42.29 (elimination of dracunculiasis) and WHA44.5, WHA50.35 and WHA57.9 (eradication of dracunculiasis); Recalling that health ministers of countries that were endemic for dracunculiasis in 2004 signed, during the Fifty-seventh World Health Assembly, the Geneva Declaration for the Eradication of Dracunculiasis by 2009; Noting the resolutions on the eradication of dracunculiasis adopted by the Regional Committee for Africa;3 Noting with satisfaction the excellent results achieved by the countries where dracunculiasis is endemic in decreasing the number of cases from an estimated 3.5 million in 1986 to less than 3200 reported cases in 2009 and 1435 reported cases4 in 2010 (up to August);
1 2
Document EB128/15.
See document EB128/15 Add.1 for the financial and administrative implications for the Secretariat of adoption of the resolution. 3 4
Resolutions AFR/RC38/R13, AFR/RC41/R2, AFR/RC43/R9, AFR/RC44/R8, and AFR/RC45/R8. Provisional figures.
EB128.R6
Encouraged that only four countries remained endemic for dracunculiasis at the end of 2009, all in sub-Saharan Africa, and that 187 countries and territories have been certified free of dracunculiasis transmission; Congratulating all parties concerned, particularly the Carter Center and UNICEF, for increasing the availability of safe drinking-water, improving surveillance for case detection and case containment, strengthening other interventions and expanding public awareness of the disease, 1. ENDORSES the strategy of intensified surveillance, case containment, use of cloth and pipe filters, vector control, access to safe drinking-water, health education and community mobilization; 2. CALLS ON the remaining Member States where dracunculiasis is endemic to intensify their eradication efforts, including active surveillance in villages where the disease is endemic and surveillance in dracunculiasis-free areas, prevention measures and political support at the highest levels; 3. CALLS ON Member States that have already been certified as free from dracunculiasis and those that are in the pre-certification stage to intensify surveillance for the disease and report the results regularly, and to notify WHO within 24 hours of any case detected and the alleged country of origin of the case; 4. URGES Member States, The Carter Center, UNICEF and other appropriate partners to support the remaining countries where dracunculiasis is endemic in their efforts to stop its transmission as soon as possible, with, inter alia, provision of adequate resources for interrupting transmission and eventual certification of eradication of the disease; 5. REQUESTS the Director-General: (1) to garner support for the remaining countries where dracunculiasis is endemic in their efforts to stop its transmission as soon as possible, with, inter alia, provision of adequate resources for interrupting transmission and certification of eradication of the disease; (2) to support surveillance in dracunculiasis-free areas and countries until global certification of eradication; (3) to closely monitor the implementation of this resolution and report progress through the Executive Board to the Health Assembly every two years until eradication of dracunculiasis is certified.
Eighth meeting, 20 January 2011 EB128/SR/8 = = =
2