Steering committee for onchocerciasis control in the Volta river basin area : report of its fifteenth session, Paris 1 and 3 December 1975

lj^ il Att *\ m:{- F RESTRICTED STEERING COMMITTEE FOR ONCHOCERCIASIS CONTROL IN THE VOLTA RIVER BASIN AREA REPORT OF ITS FIFTEENTH SESSION Paris, 1 and 3 December 1975 a -2- CONTENTS A. Opening of the Session - Election of Chairman . B. Second Session of the Joint CoordinaLing Corunittee C. TimeEable of meet.i.nge for 1976 D. OCP - Quarterly Progress Reports ANNEX Part,icipants . Paragraph 1 2 10 15 Page 3 3 2 4 5 3- { A. OPENING OF IIIE SESSION - ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN l. The fifteenth session of the Steering Conunittee for Onchocerciasi.s Control in the Volta River Basin area was opened by Dr A. Bellerive (WHO) at the European Office of the World Bank, Paris on 1 December 1975. Mr M. Bazin (fSRD) was elected Chairman. Mr M. Doo Kingue (UNDP) introduced Mr G. Pennachio, who would replace Mr C. H. La MuniEre as LJNDPrs representaEive on the Steering Cormnittee. Mr Pennachio was welcomed by Ehe Chairman, who recalled with warmth his predecessor, now in the Sudan. Mr Bazin Ehen proposed that the Steering Cornmittee formally express to Mr La MuniEre its appreciation for his contribution to the work of the Conmittee over the last three years and wished him well in his new assignment. B. SECOND SESSION OF THE JOINT COORDINATING COMMITTEE 2. Mr Doo Kingue presented his draft statement on Planning for Economic Development of Onchocerciasis freed areas to the Steering Comnittee for cornment prior to its finalization for the JCC. 3. The Bank distributed to the Couunittee Ehe Annual ReporE of the Chairman of the Econooic Develop,rnent Advisory Panel (EDAP) which had been revised following discussions at the World Bank. As FAO stil1 had reservations on certai-n points, it was agreed Ehat the acting repre- sentative of FAO would discuss these points with Mr Paul Marc Henry, Chai-rman of EDAP, prior to the JCC session. FAO informed the Conrnittee that Mr Carney, the Prograuune economist, would be presenE the JCC session. 5. The Chairman introduced the Bankrs note on the financing of the Onchocerciasis Progranme in L976, which was presented to the Counrittee by Mr E. Peter Wright (fsRD). WHO expressed satisfaction with the financial outlook as described by the Bank and hoped that donor count,ries would consider sympathetically financial corrritments which might arise during the course of the year. 6. The Bank informed the Coumittee that one of the donors had raised a number of questions regarding the fiscal year L976 budget which was considered to be on the high side and suggested that WHO should Prepare itself to answer questions on this at t.he session. 7, Ihe IndependenE Chairman reported on his visit Eo the participat.ing countries and reviewed arrangements for the JCC session. He confirmed that all documents distributed had been received in due time by the participating countries although the channels of connrunication had not yet been firmly established. 8. The question of the possible extension of the Programme area was raised by Mr Doo Kingue, who informed the Cornmittee that the letter prepared by WIIO on its behalf had not, in fact, been sent to the Government of Senegal. (ttri.rteenth Session Report, Section E, paras. 2l-26). 9. The Steering Cormlttee confirmed that its policy with regard to extension during theinitial years of the Progranmre had not changed and it was agreed that, WHO would discuss howbest to handle this critical lssue at the JCC. C. TIMETABLE OF MEETINGS FOR 1976 10. The Steering Coumittee considered the 1976 timetable of meetings and the documentat.ion required for the third session of the Joint Coordinating Conmittee which would take placeduring the first half of December Lg76--- 11. It was agreed that the sixteenth session of the Steer Conrmittee would be held on 10 and 11 February L976 aE the World Bank office in paris. i.tems would be considered: At this session, the following (a) a draft formaE of the 1977 t.he plan of operations I 4. at Progranrme Budget which would be closely associated with -4- (b) the composition of the Economic Development Advisory panel; (c) the Independent Chairmants report of the second session of the JCC; (d) the handling of economic data. 12. The Bank stressed the need for formulation of a budget which clearly reflects the plan of operations and cash flow requirements for 1977. 13. The Committee noted that the t.hird meeting of the Scientific and Technical AdvisorvCostrrittee would take place from 2-4 I'larch 1976 with E.he Ecological Panel. It was pointed out that at least one more meeting of STAC would be required prior to the JCC and the latter part of August was suggested. At this meeting, an annual report would be prepared for submission to the JCC. L4. It was agreed that the Steering Cormrittee would meet not later than mid-September Eo reviewthedocumentationtobmJCC,i.e.theannua1rePortsofSTAC,EDAPand the Ecological Panel, and the 1977 Budget. WIIO would prepare a progress report covering the period December L975 - August 1976 which would be updated at the session by the Progranrne Directorrs oral st.atement. A supplementary written report on the control operat.ions would be presented at Ehe session. D. ocP - QUARTERLY PROGRISS REPORTS l 15. in With regard to the quarterly progress reports prepared by WHO, the Cosmittee agreed that future these could be prepared and distributed without it.s prior approval. 5PARTICIPANTS Members of the Steering Connrittee Mr M. Ls, Bazin, IBRD Headquarters, [rlashington Dr A. Bellerive, WHO tleadquarters, Geneva Mr G. Pennachio, UNDP Headquarters, New York Mr T. S. B. Aribisala, member for FAO, r^ras represented by Mr C. G Headquarters, Rome SecreEariat IBRD Headquarters ANNEX Groom of FAO LINDP Headquarters IIIIO Headquarters WIIO Regional Office for Africa Onchocerciasis Control Prograurne Headquarters, 0uagadougou Dr M. G. Candau, Independent Chairman of part of the session. Mr E. Peter Wright, Programs DirecEor, Western Africa Mr M. Burer, Agronomist, Projects Division, Western Africa Mr D. Garff, Loan Officer, Western Africa Mr M. Doo Kingu6, Assistant Administrator and DirecEor, Regional Bureau for Africa Mr A. Imbruglia, Chief, Budget Unit Mr J. D. M. Marr, Entomologisr/Biologist, Onchocerciasis Control Prograrnnre Dr E. Onori, Epidemiologist, Onchocerciasis Control Progranrne Miss R. Vi11ars, Administrative Officer, Onchocerciasis Control Programme Dr J. Mahoney, Assist,anE. Director, Health Services Ziegler, Progranrne Director Le Berre, Chief, Slmulium Control Unit Carney, Economist the Joint Coordinating Committee also attended Dr P. Dr R. Mr D. \ a