Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) 3 September 2010 -- The sixtieth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa ended on Friday in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, after adopting five resolutions aimed at improving the health situation in the African Region.

The meeting adopted resolutions on the establishment of an African Public Health Emergency Fund (APHEF), a strategy on the reduction of the harmful use of alcohol and another on addressing the key determinants of health. The other two resolutions are on the use of eHealth solutions and strengthening routine immunization and polio eradication activities in the African Region.

The resolution on APHEF urged Member States to ensure the highest level of government support towards the sustainability and successful functioning of the fund, and continue to advocate for the sustenance of APHEF at national, sub-regional and regional forums.

The resolution on addressing the key determinants of health urged Member States to ensure sustainable leadership, policies and structures to coordinate inter-sectoral action to address the determinants of health across population groups and priority health conditions. It also called for the promotion of both qualitative and quantitative research in order to foster understanding of factors influencing the health equity trends including the role of cultural beliefs and values.

Regarding the reduction of harmful use of alcohol, delegates urged countries to develop, strengthen and implement evidence-based national policies and interventions and adopt and enforce necessary regulations and legislations in this area; create public awareness on alcohol-related harm, and encourage the mobilization and active engagement of all the social and economic groups concerned in reducing harmful use of alcohol.

The resolution on eHealth urged Member States to promote national commitment to and awareness of eHealth; develop a conducive policy environment by conducting a national needs assessment for eHealth, developing national policies, strategies, norms and appropriate governance mechanisms, and drawing up long-term strategic plans or frameworks for eHealth.

It also called for the building of infrastructure and the establishment of services for eHealth; the systematic development of human capacity for eHealth by introducing ICT curriculum in health training institutions and the establishment of monitoring and evaluation systems.

The resolution on strengthening routine immunization and polio eradication activities called on Member States to integrate immunization into national health development policy and plans and health system strengthening,; increase financing for immunization; improve the quality of supplementary and routine immunization activities through detailed micro planning; increase institutional , human resource and management capacity; intensify and expand social mobilization activities; strengthen immunization research and institutionalize an annual African Vaccination Week.

The Regional Committee agreed that its next session would be held in Cote d'Ivoire in 2011.

The 60th session of the Regional Committee which took place from 30 August to 3 September was opened by the President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea. It was attended by, among others, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan; WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo; Ministers and heads of delegations from 46 Member States in the WHO African Region; former President of Mali and former Chairman of the African union Commission, Prof. Alpha Konare; the Director of the UNAIDS Inter-country team for team for West and Central Africa, Dr Meskerem Grunitzky-Bekele; UNICEF Regional Director, Mr. Gianfranco Rotigliano and WHO's Goodwill Ambassador for maternal and child health, Dr Pascoal Mocumbi.

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Barbara Etoa, OMS/AFRO, Tel: (+240) 222716100 courriel: etoab [at] cm.afro.who.int

Souleymane Koné, OMS/AFRO, Tel: (+240) 222716100; courriel: kones [at] ci.afro.who.int