Regional action plan for neglected tropical diseases in the Western Pacific (2012-2016) (Resolution)

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ R E S O L U T I O N REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC COMITE RÉGIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL WPR/RC63.R4 27 September 2012 REGIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC (2012–2016) The Regional Committee, Concerned that neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) remain a significant public health problem in the Region, especially affecting those living in poverty and in remote areas; Recognizing the need to combine disease-specific plans into an integrated NTD framework; Acknowledging the progress made by several Member States in reducing the NTD burden as a result of strong political commitment, improved access to preventive chemotherapy1 and quality case management, and the integration of NTD control into health and education systems; Aware of the continued high burden of NTDs in some countries; Recognizing the need to consolidate success in leprosy, lymphatic filariasis and schistosomiasis programmes to meet the elimination goals, and the need to fill gaps in knowledge of the burden of trachoma and yaws in order to start elimination interventions; …/ 1 Preventive chemotherapy stands for the large-scale preventive treatment against helminthiases and trachoma with safe, single-dose, quality-assured medicines. WPR/RC63.R4 page 2 Acknowledging the need to scale up national and regional interventions for soil-transmitted helminthiases and foodborne trematodiases; Acknowledging the need for sustained funding for NTD interventions in endemic countries and areas; Recognizing the importance of the Regional Action Plan for Neglected Tropical Diseases in the Western Pacific, in line with relevant World Health Assembly resolutions,2 to serve as a road map for the Region; Having reviewed the draft Regional Action Plan for Neglected Tropical Diseases in the Western Pacific (2012–2016), 1. ENDORSES the Regional Action Plan for Neglected Tropical Diseases in the Western Pacific (2012–2016); 2. URGES Member States where NTDs exist: (1) to use the Regional Action Plan for Neglected Tropical Diseases in the Western Pacific (2012–2016) to update or develop national NTD plans of action and use the regional action plan as a framework for monitoring implementation, documenting success and mobilizing resources; (2) to ensure that sufficient human and financial resources are made available to implement and sustain national NTD control and elimination programmes, and incorporate health system strengthening whenever feasible; …/ 2 Elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem (WHA50.29, 1997), Global elimination of blinding trachoma (WHA51.11, 1998), Elimination of leprosy as a public health problem (WHA51.15, 1998), Schistosomiasis and soil- transmitted helminth infections (WHA54.19, 2001), Control of leishmaniasis (WHA60.13, 2007), and Elimination of schistosomiasis (WHA65.21, 2012). WPR/RC63.R4 page 3 (3) to work towards universal access for all populations at risk for NTDs to appropriate preventive chemotherapy interventions, quality case management and transmission control activities; (4) to strengthen national surveillance, monitoring and evaluation systems to monitor NTD trends, assess programme impact, provide data for verification of elimination and report annually to WHO on key regional indicators; (5) to identify and implement research priorities to fill NTD programmatic knowledge gaps, while building regional research capacity; (6) to support interprogrammatic and intersectoral collaboration, and encourage partnerships with nongovernmental organizations and technical agencies—including involvement of the private sector when appropriate—to address NTDs comprehensively and optimize use of resources; 3. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (1) to use the Regional Action Plan for Neglected Tropical Diseases in the Western Pacific (2012–2016) to advocate with key international stakeholders and development partners for increased support for NTD programmes in the Region; (2) to provide technical support to Member States to develop or update integrated national NTD plans of action; support scaling up of NTD programmes; build national capacity, particularly in surveillance, monitoring and evaluation; define programmatic gaps that need to be addressed through operational research; (3) to continue to monitor and assess the NTD situation in the Region; …/ WPR/RC63.R4 page 4 (4) to report regularly to the Regional Committee on the progress made in implementing the Regional Action Plan for Neglected Tropical Diseases in the Western Pacific (2012–2016). Sixth meeting, 27 September 2012