Addis Ababa, 1 September 2006 -- The fifty-sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa ended Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the adoption of seven resolutions aimed at scaling up action in critical areas that are key to improving the health and socio-economic situation in Africa.

Three of the resolutions adopted by the Regional Committee, comprising health ministers from 46 Member States which constitute the WHO African Region, endorsed three health strategy documents developed by the Brazzaville-based WHO Africa Regional Office. These are on health financing, the renewal and acceleration of HIV prevention, and the optimal survival, growth and development of African children.

The resolution on health financing called on Member States to fulfill the commitment made by African Heads of State to allocate at least 15% of their national budgets to health. It also called for the strengthening or development of comprehensive health financing policies, national pre-paid health financing systems, and capacities for generating, disseminating and using evidence from health financing in decision making.

The resolution on improving child survival urged countries to put in place policies needed for effective implementation of the child survival strategy adopted by the meeting. The goal of the strategy is to reduce neonatal and child mortality in line with the fourth Millennium Development Goal by achieving a high coverage of a defined set of effective interventions.

Delegates to the five-day meeting also adopted a three-year strategic plan (2006 - 2009) for the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). The plan aims to improve performance of national EPI programmes, and strengthen national health systems.

The resolution on avian influenza preparedness and response called on Member States to improve communication and sharing of surveillance intelligence between veterinary, human health and wildlife services; increase public communication and awareness; strengthen the capacity of national veterinary and medical laboratories; institute effective early warning systems, and notify suspected human infection in accordance with International Health Regulations and the sanitary code of the World Organization for Animal Health.

In adopting the resolution on renewal and acceleration of HIV prevention, the meeting urged countries to develop, adapt or revise national strategies in the context of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support; develop national plans for the implementation of the strategies, ensure political leadership and coordination for the implementation of strategies and plans; undertake operational research on behaviour change in order to guide behaviour change communication programmes, and commit long-term resources to ensure scaling up of sustainable national HIV prevention efforts.

The three other resolutions related to the revitalization of health services in the region using the Primary Health Care approach and the establishment or strengthening coordination mechanisms involving ministries of health, trade, commerce and other related institutions to address public related aspects of international trade.

The meeting decided that the fifty-seventh session of the Regional Committee will be held from 27 to 31 August 2007 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

The five-day meeting which was opened by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, was attended by health ministers (or their representatives) from the WHO African Region; the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Stop TB and former President of Portugal, Mr. Jorge Sampaio; the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Prof. Alpha Konare; UNICEF's Regional Director for East and Southern Africa Office, Mr Per Engebank; UNICEF's Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Ester Galuma, the acting WHO Director-General, Dr Anders Nordström, other senior WHO officials including WHO Representatives in the African Region, as well as representatives of UN agencies, funds and programmes and a number of bilateral, multilateral, Inter Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations.

For further information contact:

Samuel T. Ajibola

Tel: + 47 241 39378

In Addis Ababa : 0911 53 23 32

Email: ajibolas [at] afro.who.int