Development of the regional mental health programme (Resolution)

1\ " , REPORT OF THE REGIONAL COMMITTE\<: WPR/RC31.R23 ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS The Regional Committee, Noting with satisfaction the progress made in developing a region- wide programme; Recognizing the compelling reasons for evolving a worldwide strategy for the control of acute respiratory infections, such as the continuing massive morbidity with attendant economic losses, the very high premature mortality from pneumonic- and influenzal-like diseases in many of the less developed countries, and the emerging resistance to antibiotics of bacterial respiratory pathogens; Recognizing also the need to determine the optimal usage of available vaccines and the prospect of further developments in the area of vaccines and anti-viral substances; 1. URGES Member States; 45 (1) to give serious consideration to the development of a standardized data recording and reporting system and the establishment of committees to coordinate national control activities; (2) to give high priority to the reduction of mortality ~n children as well as the reduction of morbidity, which constitutes an easily demonstrable burden for industrialized countries; 2. REQUESTS the Regional Director; (1) to continue to implement the regional medium-term programme for the control of acute respiratory infections; (2) to collaborate with Member States in establishing means to monitor, investigate and control acute respiratory infections in defined populations, using standardized methodology; (3) to promote methods for intercountry cooperation and collaboration in the surveillance and control of acute respiratory infections. Seventh meeting, 12 September 1980 WPR/RC11.R24 DRVELOPMENT OF THE RRGIONAL MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMME The Regional Commillpf', Recalling resolutions WHAZ8.84, WHAZq.21, WHA32.l3, WPR/RC27.R5 and WPR/RC29.R12. which noted with concern the magnitude and severity of mental health problems and the importance of psychosocial factors in health care; Recalling further that the International Conference on Primary Health Care held at Alma-Ata recommended that the promotion of mental health should be one of the elements of primary health care; Considering that mental health and psychosocial development are of central importance in efforts to achieve health for all by the year 2000; 46 REGIONAL COMMITTEE; THIRTY-FIRST SESSION 1. URGES Member States: (1) to strengthen their mental health programmes so as to: (a) improve the prevention and care of mental and neurological disorders; (b) undertake measures to deal with problems related to alcohol and drug dependence; and (c) ensure that the psychosocial aspects of health care and development are given appropriate attention; (2) to establish coordinating mechanisms within countries which will be vested with sufficient authority and given support to select priorities, reorient resources and implement programmes; 2. REQUESTS the Regional Director to: (1) initiate or strengthen cooperation with countries in the accelerated development of mental health components within the general health services, using the primary health care approach; (2) provide training opportunities for the vartous categories of personnel involved in dealing with psychosocial problems. Seventh meeting, 12 September 1980 WPR/RC3l.R25 ABUSE OF NARCOTIC AND PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES The Regional Committee, Taking into accou~t resolution WHA33.27 adopted by the Thirty-third World Health Assembly concerning greater attention to drug abuse in WHO programmes; Considering United Nations General Assembly resolution 34/177, calling for increased activity in the implementation of drug abuse prevention and control programmes by the United Nations and its specialized agencies; Recognizing that the growing abuse of heroin, opiates, cocaine, cannabis and psychoactive drugs knows no national boundaries; Recognizing further that drug abuse has a particularly detrimental impact on public health and must be addressed at the community level;