WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ INDEXED
A24/A/15 13 May 1971
TWENTY-FOURTH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
C O M M I T T E E A
DRAFT FIRST REPORT OF COMMITTEE A
Committee A held its first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth meetings on 6, 10, 11, 12 and 13 May 1971 under the chairmanship of Dr A. R. AL-ADWANI (Kuwait).
In conformity with the proposals of the Committee on Nominations1 it elected Dr E. DUHR (Luxembourg) Vice-Chairman, and Dr I. WONE (Senegal) Rapporteur.
It was decided to recommend to the Twenty-fourth World Health Assembly the adoption of the attached resolutions relating to the following agenda items:
- 2 -
SITUATION OF THE CHOLERA PANDEMIC
The Twenty-fourth World Health Assembly I
Having noted resolution EB47.R31 of the forty-seventh session of the Executive Board;1 Having reviewed the report by the Director-General on the present problems caused by the spread of cholera
Noting the action taken by the Organization in response to the requests of governments during the pandemic; and
Realizing that cholera is a long-term socio-economic problem, in addition to being a public health problem;
1. CONGRATULATES the Director-General on the action taken;
2. REQUESTS the Director-General:
(i) to take appropriate measures so that the Organization can continue to respond rapidly and effectively to the continuing needs caused by the cholera pandemic;
(ii) in view of the fact that there is clear evidence that the present available cholera vaccine is of little use in preventing the spread of the disease, to give high priority to long-term programmes aimed at the improvement of water supplies and environmental sanitation and personal hygiene, which will prevent cholera from becoming endemic in newly invaded areas and will ultimately lead to its elimination from endemic foci;
(iii) to undertake further studies for the development of more effective methods for
prevention and control of cholera, including research in the vaccine prophylaxis and treat
ment of cholera making use of the experience acquired by countries in this domain;
(iv) to undertake a study of the implications of the removal of cholera from the Interna
tional Health Regulations and to report to the next meeting of the Committee on International Surveillance of Communicable Diseases;
(v) to further strengthen national efforts in the production of rehydration fluids, anti
biotics and vaccines;
3. INVITES the countries that have the necessary means to contribute to the Voluntary Fund for Health Promotion in order to develop its activities.
Noting that some countries imposed unjustified embargo on the importation of foodstuffs from countries which reported cholera cases;
Taking into account the negative results of multiple and long-term studies on the possibility of importation of cholera by contaminated foodstuffs;
CALLS on Member States not to apply such embargo on the importation of alimentary products.
II
1 Off. Rec. Wld Hlth Org., 189, 20 2 Document
- 3 -
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH FOR MINERS
The Twenty-fourth World Health Assembly,
Recalling resolution WHA23.471 on occupational health for miners;
Having considered the report of the Director-General on the subject;О
Noting the activities already undertaken by the International Labour Organisation and the World Health Organization for promoting better conditions of life, work and health for miners by the establishment of international standards, the provision of technical assistance and the development of related research;
Considering the need for further efforts in this domain, in particular in the development at national level of health services for miners and in the training of staff,
1. INVITES Member States:
(a) to give consideration to available international labour standards relating to the safety and health of miners with a view to putting them into effect;
(b) to promote the necessary steps for the establishment, with the assistance of the International Labour Organisation and the World Health Organization as required, of national occupational health services; and
(c) to train the necessary personnel to man these services;
2. REQUESTS the Director-General:
(a) to study the means of establishing in consultation with the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation a standard medical reporting system on the health problems of miners;
(b) to give, within the budgetary resources available, all possible assistance to Member States in the development of their national occupational health services; and
(c) to continue and expand the current research programme of the Organization in this field with particular reference to the health problems of mining in different geo-physical and sociological environments.
Handbook of resolutions and decisions, 11th ed., p. 94.
Document WHA24fk/lO.
