AFR/RC27/R5:
The Regional Committee,
Having examined the report of the Regional Director on the Health of Working Populations in the African Region;
Recalling resolution WHA29.57 of the Twenty-ninth World Health Assembly inviting regional committees do discuss occupational health in 1977 or 1978 with a view to active implementation of a regional programme of work based of individual countries;1
Noting the rapid socioeconomic development in the Region, and the important role played in that process by a healthy working population;
Aware of the many facets of the development process, which includes the expansion and modernization of agriculture and allied industries, the prospecting and use of mineral resources, and the development of industry with concomitant health hazards to workers;
Recognizing that the majority of the working populations in rural and semi-urban areas are still underserved with health care services, making the workers particularly susceptible to endemic diseases,
1. ENDORSES the broad outlines of the report;
2. THANKS the Regional Director for his report and proposed strategy;
3. INVITES Member States of the Region to reinforce comprehensive health care services at all levels, including those for the working populations;
4. REQUESTS the Regional Director to:
(i) call a multidisciplinary regional expert meeting on occupational health to formulate medium-term and long-term programmes of work for the Region in the light of the present situation;
(ii) develop in collaboration with Member States regional centres for training and research in this discipline;
(iii) support a study of the health Status of migrant workers in the Region, particularly in those countries still under colonial domination;
5. REQUESTS the Director-General to seek extra-budgetary funds to support the training component of a regional programme and field studies on priority aspects of workers’ health.
September 1977, 27, xiii
1 Document AFR/RC21/4 Add.1.
