AFR/RC62/R8 21 November 2012
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA Sixty-second session Luanda, Republic of Angola, 19–23 November 2012
RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS (2005) IN THE AFRICAN REGION (Document AFR/RC62/12) The Regional Committee, Having examined the technical paper on Implementation of International Health Regulations (2005) in the African Region; Aware of the risk of public health events of international concern and the associated negative social and economic consequences in the African Region; Deeply concerned about the inability of all Member States in the African Region to attain the required minimum IHR (2005) core capacities by the set date of 15 June 2012; Noting that a significant number of Member States have limited capacity to effectively and comprehensively prepare for, investigate and respond to public health emergencies of international concern due to chemical, biological and radionuclear events; Recalling Resolutions AFR/RC48/R2 on Integrated disease surveillance, AFR/RC58/R2 on Strengthening public health laboratories, AFR/RC59/R4 on Policy orientation on the establishment of centres of excellence for disease surveillance, public health laboratories and food and drug regulations, WHA58.3 on Revision of the international health regulations and WHA 65.23 on Implementation of the international health regulations (2005); Appreciating the commitment and efforts made so far by Member States and partners in implementing the international health regulations through the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response strategy (IDSR); Convinced that the full implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) by Member States will help safeguard international public health security; 1. APPROVES the proposed actions aimed at accelerating the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) by Member States and WHO in the African Region;
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2.
URGES Member States: (a) to implement all the provisions of resolution WHA65.23 of the World Health Assembly and Resolutions AFR/RC48/R2, AFR/RC58/R2 and AFR/RC59/R4 of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa; (b) to conduct country-wide assessment of the status of implementation of international health regulations minimum core capacities in order to identify gaps hindering smooth implementation of the Regulations; (c) to revise their National IHR (2005) implementation plans to focus on the identified priorities as well as establish and/or strengthen institutional and human resource capacities, national health legislation and monitoring and evaluation systems that will allow countries to adhere to and fully implement the new IHR (2005) target set for 2014; (d) to mobilize the financial and human resources necessary to fully implement and sustain the minimum IHR core capacities; (e) to strengthen coordination and collaboration in IHR-related matters among Member States and between relevant sectors and partners in order to develop, establish and maintain the core public health capacities, taking into account the concept of “One Health”; (f) to integrate interventions related to the International Health Regulations, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response and disaster risk management; (g) to promote cross-border collaboration in public health issues and risks of common concern as well as fully implement and monitor national and international health regulations; (h) to work with WHO in ensuring correct interpretation and application of international travel and trade requirements as they relate to yellow fever and other diseases that may pose global public health risks; (i) to report regularly to WHO on the progress made in IHR implementation;
3.
REQUESTS the Regional Director: (a) to continue to provide technical support to Member States for the revision of the national IHR implementation plans and monitoring and evaluation tools in order to ensure the attainment of IHR minimum core capacities by 2014; (b) to continue to provide guidance and technical support to Member States in their efforts to develop the necessary capacities required by the International Health Regulations (2005); (c) to promote the engagement of regional economic communities and other relevant international organizations and stakeholders to ensure their contribution towards effective implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005); (d) to organize cross-border ministerial meetings on issues related to the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005); (e) to consider identifying a site for prepositioning of essential supplies for rapid response to public-health emergencies in small island States;
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(f) to continue to promote the establishment of centres of excellence in the areas of public health surveillance, laboratories, food and drugs regulation, research and training that would support the implementation of national and international health regulations; (g) to monitor the progress of IHR implementation in each Member State and produce reports for follow-up at regional and global levels; (h) to report to the Regional Committee every year, thereafter, on the progress made in the implementation of IHR (2005) in the African Region.
AFR/RC62/R8 21 November 2012 REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA Sixty-second session Luanda, Republic of Angola, 19–23 November 2012 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS (2005) IN THE AFRICAN REGION (Document AFR/RC62/12) The Regional Committee, Having examined the technical paper on Implementation of International Health Regulations (2005) in the African Region; Aware of the risk of public health events of international concern and the associated negative social and economic consequences in the African Region; Deeply concerned about the inability of all Member States in the African Region to attain the required minimum IHR (2005) core capacities by the set date of 15 June 2012; Noting that a significant number of Member States have limited capacity to effectively and comprehensively prepare for, investigate and respond to public health emergencies of international concern due to chemical, biological and radionuclear events; Recalling Resolutions AFR/RC48/R2 on Integrated disease surveillance, AFR/RC58/R2 on Strengthening public health laboratories, AFR/RC59/R4 on Policy orientation on the establishment of centres of excellence for disease surveillance, public health laboratories and food and drug regulations, WHA58.3 on Revision of the international health regulations and WHA 65.23 on Implementation of the international health regulations (2005); Appreciating the commitment and efforts made so far by Member States and partners in implementing the international health regulations through the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response strategy (IDSR); Convinced that the full implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) by Member States will help safeguard international public health security; 1. APPROVES the proposed actions aimed at accelerating the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) by Member States and WHO in the African Region; AFR/RC62/R8 Page 2 2. URGES Member States: (a) to implement all the provisions of resolution WHA65.23 of the World Health Assembly and Resolutions AFR/RC48/R2, AFR/RC58/R2 and AFR/RC59/R4 of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa; (b) to conduct country-wide assessment of the status of implementation of international health regulations minimum core capacities in order to identify gaps hindering smooth implementation of the Regulations; (c) to revise their National IHR (2005) implementation plans to focus on the identified priorities as well as establish and/or strengthen institutional and human resource capacities, national health legislation and monitoring and evaluation systems that will allow countries to adhere to and fully implement the new IHR (2005) target set for 2014; (d) to mobilize the financial and human resources necessary to fully implement and sustain the minimum IHR core capacities; (e) to strengthen coordination and collaboration in IHR-related matters among Member States and between relevant sectors and partners in order to develop, establish and maintain the core public health capacities, taking into account the concept of “One Health”; (f) to integrate interventions related to the International Health Regulations, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response and disaster risk management; (g) to promote cross-border collaboration in public health issues and risks of common concern as well as fully implement and monitor national and international health regulations; (h) to work with WHO in ensuring correct interpretation and application of international travel and trade requirements as they relate to yellow fever and other diseases that may pose global public health risks; (i) to report regularly to WHO on the progress made in IHR implementation; 3. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (a) to continue to provide technical support to Member States for the revision of the national IHR implementation plans and monitoring and evaluation tools in order to ensure the attainment of IHR minimum core capacities by 2014; (b) to continue to provide guidance and technical support to Member States in their efforts to develop the necessary capacities required by the International Health Regulations (2005); (c) to promote the engagement of regional economic communities and other relevant international organizations and stakeholders to ensure their contribution towards effective implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005); (d) to organize cross-border ministerial meetings on issues related to the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005); (e) to consider identifying a site for prepositioning of essential supplies for rapid response to public-health emergencies in small island States; AFR/RC62/R8 Page 3 (f) to continue to promote the establishment of centres of excellence in the areas of public health surveillance, laboratories, food and drugs regulation, research and training that would support the implementation of national and international health regulations; (g) to monitor the progress of IHR implementation in each Member State and produce reports for follow-up at regional and global levels; (h) to report to the Regional Committee every year, thereafter, on the progress made in the implementation of IHR (2005) in the African Region.