REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA Fifty-fifth session Maputo, Mozambique, 22–26 August 2005
AFR/RC55/R4 25 August 2005 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES IN THE AFRICAN REGION: CURRENT SITUATION AND PERSPECTIVES (document AFR/RC55/--)
The Regional Committee, Having examined the document (AFR/RC55/12) entitled “Cardiovascular diseases in the African Region: Current situation and perspectives”; Noting the magnitude, the public health implications and the socioeconomic importance of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); Cognizant of the orientations in the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health as well as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; Concerned about the accelerated increase in the disease burden due to cardiovascular diseases, adding on to the heavy burden of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; Appreciating all efforts that Member States and their partners have made in the past to manage cardiovascular diseases and thereby improve the health of their populations; Recognizing the need to review existing approaches and develop a comprehensive and integrated strategic framework for the prevention and control of CVDs in countries of the African Region; 1. APPROVES the Report of the Regional Director, aimed at prevention and control of CVDs in Member States to improve the quality of life of their populations through the alleviation of the burden of cardiovascular diseases, through promoting healthy lifestyles and other appropriate interventions; 2. URGES Member States: (a) (b) (c) (d) to develop and strengthen national policies, strategies and programmes targeting the prevalent CVDs affecting their populations; to provide resources for CVDs within the context of their national integrated noncommunicable disease prevention and control programmes; to implement integrated surveillance using the STEPwise approach, quantifying the burden and trends of CVDs, their risk factors, major determinants and quality of care; to promote prevention strategies based on knowledge of the risk factors aimed at reducing the occurrence of cases and consequently premature mortality and disability due to CVDs, using multisectoral and community-based approaches that include measures such as education, legislation, taxation and trade where appropriate;
AFR/RC55/R4 Page 2 (e) (f) to improve the capacity of health personnel in the prevention, control and management of CVDs and strengthen care for persons with CVDs at all levels of national health services; to promote research on effective community-based intervention strategies, including traditional medicines;
3.
REQUESTS the Regional Director: (a) (b) (c) (d) to provide technical support to Member States for the development of national policies and programmes to prevent and control CVDs; to increase support for the training of health professionals in CVD prevention and control, including monitoring and evaluation of programmes; to mobilize additional resources for the implementation of national cardiovascular disease control programmes; to report to the Regional Committee every two years on progress in the implementation of this resolution. Eighth meeting, 25 August 2005
REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA AFR/RC55/R4 25 August 2005 Fifty-fifth session Maputo, Mozambique, 22–26 August 2005 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES IN THE AFRICAN REGION: CURRENT SITUATION AND PERSPECTIVES (document AFR/RC55/--) The Regional Committee, Having examined the document (AFR/RC55/12) entitled “Cardiovascular diseases in the African Region: Current situation and perspectives”; Noting the magnitude, the public health implications and the socioeconomic importance of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); Cognizant of the orientations in the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health as well as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; Concerned about the accelerated increase in the disease burden due to cardiovascular diseases, adding on to the heavy burden of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; Appreciating all efforts that Member States and their partners have made in the past to manage cardiovascular diseases and thereby improve the health of their populations; Recognizing the need to review existing approaches and develop a comprehensive and integrated strategic framework for the prevention and control of CVDs in countries of the African Region; 1. APPROVES the Report of the Regional Director, aimed at prevention and control of CVDs in Member States to improve the quality of life of their populations through the alleviation of the burden of cardiovascular diseases, through promoting healthy lifestyles and other appropriate interventions; 2. URGES Member States: (a) to develop and strengthen national policies, strategies and programmes targeting the prevalent CVDs affecting their populations; (b) to provide resources for CVDs within the context of their national integrated noncommunicable disease prevention and control programmes; (c) to implement integrated surveillance using the STEPwise approach, quantifying the burden and trends of CVDs, their risk factors, major determinants and quality of care; (d) to promote prevention strategies based on knowledge of the risk factors aimed at reducing the occurrence of cases and consequently premature mortality and disability due to CVDs, using multisectoral and community-based approaches that include measures such as education, legislation, taxation and trade where appropriate; AFR/RC55/R4 Page 2 (e) to improve the capacity of health personnel in the prevention, control and management of CVDs and strengthen care for persons with CVDs at all levels of national health services; (f) to promote research on effective community-based intervention strategies, including traditional medicines; 3. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (a) to provide technical support to Member States for the development of national policies and programmes to prevent and control CVDs; (b) to increase support for the training of health professionals in CVD prevention and control, including monitoring and evaluation of programmes; (c) to mobilize additional resources for the implementation of national cardiovascular disease control programmes; (d) to report to the Regional Committee every two years on progress in the implementation of this resolution. Eighth meeting, 25 August 2005