WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANT~
REGIONAL COMMITTEE
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC BUREAU R~GIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL P. o. Box 1'32. MANILA
WP/RCJ2/8 25 July 1961 ORIGlNAL: ENGLISH
Twelfth Session Wellington 31 August - 5 September 1961 Agenda Item 16
RESOLUTIONS OF REGIONAL INTEREST AOOPTED BY TEE TWENTY-BEVENTH AND TWENTY-EIGHTH SESSIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AND THE FOURTEENTH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
The following resolutions adopted by the Executive Board and the World Health Assembly are submitted to the Committee for its information; 1
Adoption of a WHO Flag (WHA14.24) "The Fourteenth World Health Assembly,
Recognizing that it is desirable to adopt an official flag of the World Health Organization to be flown on the premises of the Organization and to be displayed elsewhere on ceremonial and other appropriate occasions, 1. DECIDES that the flag of the World Health Organization shall be the official emblem of the World Health Organization adopted by the First World Health Assembly, centered on a United Nations blue background, provided that the emblem shall appear in white with the Aesculapian staff and serpent in gold; 1 • • '::0
2. REQUESTS the Director-General to draw up regulations concerning the dimensions and proportions of the flag; and
3. AUTHORIZES the Director-General to adopt a flag code, bearing in mind the desirability of a regulated use of the flag and the protection of its dignity." The Committee will note that the Director-General was authorized to adopt a Flag Code. This is now under preparation. /2 Declaration •••
1 See Off Rec Wld Hlth Org •.!!Q, Annex 4 , '."1
WP/RCJ2/8 page 2 2
Declaration concernin the Granting of Inde endence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Tasks of the World Health Organization WEAl .5 ) "The Fourteenth World Health Assembly,
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Considering that the Constitution of the World Health Organization subscribed to by all Member States established that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental right of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition, and that the health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security; Considering also that the nations have pledged themselves, through the Charter of the United Nations, to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom; , , 1
Noting the declaration concerning the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples adopted by the fifteenth session of the United Nations General Assembly; Recognizing that all dependent peoples aspire fervently to achieve their independence and desire and need to proceed rapidly with their SOCial, economic and cultural development; Welcoming the attainment of independence by new states and their entry into the World Health Organization; Believing that the World Health Organization has an important part to play in promoting the fundamental and inalienable right of colonial countries and peoples to freedom and independence through assistance in raising levels of physical and mental health, and that one of WHO's urgent tasks is to help newly independent countries, and those preparing for independence, to overcome deficiencies in health programmes and serious shortages in trained medical and health personnel, 1. REQUESTS the Director-General to make all possible efforts to provide such assistance to Member States having newly attained independence and to co-operate with them in the training of local medical personnel technically qualified to undertake the responSibility of combating infectious and parasitic diseases and of improving national health servicesj 2. URGES Member States to provide assistance to raise health levels in newly independent countries, and those which are to achieve independence, both through the World Health Organization and on a bilateral basis; and
3. APPEALS to Member States to introduce or develop in their health education programmes the teaching of the principles of racial equality and non-discrimination with a view to promoting good mental health aud in recognition of the fundamental right of every human being to health and health services." The attention of the Committee is drawn to paragraphs 2 and 3. Con):;inued Assi.stance to Newly Independent States (EB28.R22) "The Executive Board,
/RaYing considered '"
wp/RCJ2/8 p3.ge 3 Having considered the report of the Director-General on Continued Assistance to Newly Independent States; 1 Recalling the past programme of WHO for non-self governing territories in Africa and elsewhere prior to and since their.independence, and its impact on the health conditions of these territories, within the general socioeconomic development; Cognizant of the importance of the current aid being given by WHO to newly independent states particularly in the planning of their health services and, above all, in the training of their national staff; and Recalling the co-ordinating role of WHO, 1.
NOTES the report of the Director-General,
1
2.
COMMENDS the Director-General for the effective way in which WHO is providing assistance to governments in developing their health programmes;
3. EMPHASIZES that co-ordination to be effective has to be ensured at the country level; 4. CALLS ATTENTION of governments to the importance of national health planning in order to ensure that all available resources from whatever source may be effe~tively and economically used;
5. BELIEVES that WHO can best promote effective co-ordination of interna. tional health aid from all sources by assisting recipient governments in developing national plans and co-ordinating mechanism; 6. APPEALS to those Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations which are in a position to render assistance in the field of health, to co-ordinate their activities in conjunction with WHO and the recipient governments so as to ensure a systematic utilization of all aid available;
· . ..,.
7· REQUESTS the Director-General to provide such assistance, within available resources, as governments may request, and, further, 8. REQUESTS the Director-General to continue to give attention to assistance in the various aspects of health problems of newly independent States and to report to the Board at its twenty-ninth session on the development of the programmes of the Organization in these new States." The attention of the Committee is drawn to paragraphs 3, 4 and 6.
3
Smallpox Eradication Programme (WHA14.4o) liThe Fourteenth World Health Assembly,
H'3.ving examined the Director-GeneralIs report on the smallpox eradication programme; /Considering ISee Document EB28/l5
WP/RCJ2/8 page 4 Considering that progress has been made in the programme, particularly as concerns the production of potent and stable vaccines; and Noting, however, that this disease still represents an important problem in international travel, according to the reports of the WHO Committee on International Quarantine, that for this reason it is urgent to speed up the activities of the programme, and that in order to do so it is necessary to provide adequate material resources and advisory services, 1. RECOMMENDS that those countries which have not yet done so should start their eradication programme as soon as possible; 2. URGES those countries more economically advanced to make voluntary contributions in cash or in kind so as to increase the funds of the WHO Special Account j and 3. REQUESTS the Director-General to report further to the Fifteenth World Health Assembly." 4 Activities Jointly Assiotedbl UNICEF Q.l1.o. WHO· (WHA14.42) "The Fourteenth World Health Assembly, Having considered the report of the DLfector-General on the developments in activities assisted jointly with UNICEF, . 1. NOTES the report of the Director-General;
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2. THANKS UNICEF for its support to all aspects of maternal and child health, including communicable-disease control (particularly malaria eradication), nutrition and health services benefiting mothers and children, and the training of staff for such services; and 3. EXPRESSES its satisf~ction with the continuing close and effective collaboration between the two organizations." 5 Radiation Health, including Protection of Mankind from Ionizing Radiation Hazards, whatever their Source (WHA14.5b) liThe Fourteenth World Health Assembly, Recalling that the Thirteenth World Health Assembly gave detailed consideration to the subject of 'radiation health, including protection of mankind from ionizing radiation hazards, whatever their source' ; Noting that in resolution WHA13.56, the Thirteenth World Health Assembly outlined the areas of WHO responsibility and laid out a constructive programme in this field; !Noting that ..•
~See Off Rec W1Q:,Hlth Org. ;Q9,.. ~nnex 7
...
WP/RC12/8 page 5
Noting that present scientific knowledge provides data on the harmful biologic and genetic effects to human beings of massive doses of ionizing radiation; Noting that the effects of low-level radiation over a long period associated with background radiation, fall-out, and radiation resulting from medical and dental uses are under world-wide study; Recognizing that the countries concerned are reopening discussions in Geneva on 21 March 1961, with a view to the cessation of nuclear testing under effective international control; and Expressing the hope that these discussions will be successful, 1. NOTES the report of the Director-General on the progress being made by Member countries in developing and staffing radiation control programmes with particular ref~ence to the responsibilities of national health authorities and of WHO in this field; 2. REQUESTS the Director-General to continue to carry out the programme as set forth in resolution.WHA13.56, in co-operation, as appropriate, with IAEA and other agencies concernedj 3. REQUESTS the Pirector-General to co-operate with other agencies concerned in collecting and disseminating scientific and technical information on the health ~speets ot radiation to the health authorities and, through them, to the peoplept the Member States;
4. REQUESTS the D1r~etor-General to continue to sponsor or stimulate studies of the genetic and ~ological effects of low-level radiation from all sources, in co-operation ~th other agencies concerned;
5. REQUESTS the Director-General to participate, in consultation with IAEA and other competenta.nd interested international agencies, in sponsoring and stimulating ..research and stUdies aimed at the establishment of acceptable standards and regulations to prevent pollution of the sea and other international waterways by radioactive materials in amounts which adversely affect manj , 6. REQUESTS urgently prohibit all.discharge to the extent that the to promote research as all the Members of the World Health Organization to of radioactive waste into watercourses or the sea, safety of such discharge has not been proved, and referred to in paragraph 5 above;
7. URGES the health authorities of Member states to take appropriate steps to train personnel in this field and to accelerate their activities in public health aspects of radiation from all sources; RECOGNIZES the anxiety of Member States of the World Health Organization concerning increased exposure to controlled and uncontrolled sources of ionizing radiation; 9. NOTES with approval the action of the fourteenth and fifteenth sessions of the United Nations General Assembly relating to the immediate cessation / of nuclear •.•
8.
WP/RC12/8 page 6 of nuclear testing; 10. REQUESTS the governments concerned in the discussion of nuclear testing to give due regard to the health implications of the matter; and 11. URGES the health authorities of Member countries to assure that representatives of their governments at the forthcoming discussions in Geneva and in the United Nations and related bodies concerned with radiation are at all times kept fully up to date in regard to deleterious health effects." The attention of the Committee is drawn in particular to paragraphs 6,
7 and 11. 6 Administrative and Technical Trainin Economic and Social Council EB .R "The Executive Board, Noting resolution 797 (xxx) of the Economic and Social Council on 'Administrative and Technical Training' ; Having noted that the principles expressed therein are in close agreement with those embodied in the 'General Programme of Work for a Specific . Period', in the annual programmes, and in the Director~eneral's Reports; Cognizant of the importance of international co-operation in the field of education and training; and Considering that, in addition to the specific objectives of the programme of the World Health Organization for education and training, the activities of the Organization as a whole have consistently sought to promote the rapid formation of adequately trained cadres in the administrative and technical fields, 1. CONCURS in the opinions of the Economic and Social Council, as expressed in that resolution; 2. REAFFIRMS the constitutional responsibilities of WHO in the aspects of medical and paramedical education and training; Resolution 797 (xxx) of the
3. REITERATES the importance that should always be attached to programmes of education and training; and
4. REQUESTS the Director-General when preparing the programmes of work of the Organization: (a) to continue to reflect in the programme and activities the interest of the Organization in education and training by continuing to give a high priority to these in its future work; and (b) to provide in the annual report to the Economic and Social Council information about the progress achieved and difficulties encountered in implementing the international programme of education and training in the field of health."