Johannesburg, 5 September 2003 -- The 53rd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa ended Friday in Johannesburg with the adoption of six resolutions, including one endorsing a strategy on women's health which focuses on the health conditions that are exclusive to, or more prevalent in, women. 
The strategy, developed by the WHO Regional Office for Africa, urges countries in the Region to give greater priority to women's health in their socio-economic agenda, promote access by all women to a full range of information and quality health services, and accelerate the implementation of steps to eliminate all forms of violence and harmful traditional practices, among other things.

Delegates also adopted resolutions urging Member States to continue advocacy for peace and non-violent resolution of conflicts, sensitize the wider public to the importance of public health hazards posed by injury and violence, and develop or update food safety legislation and policies that are based on scientific risk assessment along the entire food chain.

On HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, delegates urged Member States to develop appropriate policies and legislation to create a supportive environment for scaling up interventions for the three poverty-linked diseases at the district and community levels, as well as strengthen national health systems to enhance such interventions.

A resolution on strengthening the role of hospitals urged Member States to develop comprehensive policies that complement other health services in the health system at all levels. This resolution called on countries to play a strong stewardship role in hospital development, to institute appropriate mechanisms for the management of hospitals, and to develop or update legislation aimed at ensuring the improved performance of hospitals.

The meeting also adopted a resolution endorsing the concepts and steps proposed in the report of the Director-General's Commission on Macroeconomics and Health (CMH) in 2000, to study the linkages between increased investments in health, economic development and poverty reduction. Among other things, the resolution urges Member States to establish or strengthen mechanisms for implementing the recommendations of the CHM, to develop pro-poor health interventions, and to strengthen health economics and public health capacity within health ministries and other sectors to enhance investment in health.

The five-day meeting of the Regional Committee, WHO's Governing Body in the Region, was attended by all 46 countries in the WHO African Region, with 38 delegations led by health ministers, and the others by senior health ministry officials.

The delegates agreed that the next meeting of the Regional Committee would be held in Brazzaville, Congo, from 30 August to 3 September 2004, when a new Regional Director will be elected to succeed Dr Ebrahim Samba, who retires early 2005 after 10 years at the helm of affairs.

For further information, please contact

Samuel T. Ajibola
Public Information and Communication Unit 
World Health Organization - Regional Office for Africa 
P.O. Box 6, Brazzaville, Congo. 
E-mail: ajibolas [at] afro.who.int 
Tel:+ 47 241 39378; Fax: + 47 241 39513; 
in Johannesburg: +27-72-722-5680
Or
Greer van Zyl, Health Information & Promotion 
WHO Liaison Office in South Africa
Tel: (27) 12-354-8560; Mobile: + 27- 83-647-7045