Report of the Regional Director (Resolution)

8 REGIONAL COMMITIEE: FIFTY-FOURTH SESSION II. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AND DECISIONS MADE WPRlRC54.Rl NOMINATION OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR The Regional Committee, Considering Article 52 of the Constitution; and In accordance with Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure; I. NOMINATES Dr Shigeru Omi as Regional Director for the Western Pacific; and 2. REQUESTS the Director-General to propose to the Executive Board the appointment of Dr Shigeru Omi for a period of five years from 1 February 2004. Second meeting, 8 September 2003 WPRlRC54/SRl2 WPRlRC54.R2 REPORT OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR The Regional Committee, Recalling resolutions WPRlRC50.R3 on reform in the Western Pacific Region, WPRlRC53.R6 on ethical issues related to new developments in the health sector, and WPRlRC53.R7 on essential public health functions; Having considered the report of the Regional Director entitled The Work of WHO ill the Western Pacific Region: 1 July 2002 - 30 June 2003' and noted the major directions for the next five years contained in the Regional Director's address to the Regional Committee; Appreciating the improvements that have been made to the report over the past five years; Recognizing that Member States' views on the report should be sought in order to ensure the most appropriate coverage, form and content; i\ ware of the many health inequities that remain in the Western Pacific Region; Concerned about emerging challenges to health, including new diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the continuing threat from other communicable diseases, and rising levels of noncommunicable diseases throughout the Region; I Document WPR/RC54/2. REPORT OF THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE 9 Acknowledging that significant health advances have been made in the Western Pacific Region over the past 50 years and that the quality of health services now needs to be addressed, taking into account such issues as the physical and psychological needs of patients, patient safety, and social and environmental factors; 1. THANKS the Regional Director for his report; 2. REQUESTS Member States: (I) to work with WHO to address health inequities and to ensure that health gains are enjoyed by previously underserved populations; (2) to build up health systems that are capable of carrying out essential public health functions and of responding to new challenges; (3) to ensure that health policies lead to improvements in the quality of health care and that they take account of such issues as human dignity, patients' rights and needs, and the role of families, culture, and society; 3. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (1) to work with Member States to encourage the integration of principles of equity and fairness into health policies; (2) to continue to work with Member States to strengthen health systems; (3) to support Member States to improve the quality of health care and ensure that broader psychological, social, ethical and cultural determinants of health are taken into account; (4) to seek the views of Member States on the form and content of his annual report. Fifth meeting, 10 September 2003 WPRlRC54/SRJ5 WPRJRC54.R3 EXPANDED PROGRAMME ON IMMUNIZATION: MEASLES AND HEPATITIS B The Regional Committee, Noting the historic achievement of the Region in becoming the second WHO region to be declared poliomyelitis-free; Recognizing the positive impact of poliomyelitis eradication in the Western Pacific Region on the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and the wider health sector; Mindful of the high burden of disease, disability, and deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases, especially measles and hepatitis B;