AFR/RC36/R11:
The Regional Committee,
Having noted the report on the technical discussions (document AFR/RC36/15), Concerned at the precarious health and social situation of farm workers;
Considering that farm workers constitute from 80 to 90 per cent of the population in most countries of the Region,
1. REQUESTS Member States:
(a) to accord higher priority to solving the health problems of pharm workers within their national health development strategies based on primary health care;
(b) to frame and strengthen appropriate legislation concerning protection and promotion of the health of farm workers, including legislation on the importation and utilization of chemicals/insecticides in agriculture;
(c) collaborate with the international and non-governmental organizations, industries and farm workers in developing activities calculated to raise the living standards of the entire rural population in such spheres as:
low cost housing;
water supply and sanitation;
electrification;
mass information and education;
nutrition, etc;
2. REQUESTS the Regional Director;
(i) to strengthen the regional “Workers’ Health” programme so as to pay special attention to farm workers, etc;
(ii) to organize a meeting of experts for the purpose of making a deeper examination of this matter and to make practical recommendations to improve the health and social conditions of farm workers within the framework of the HFA/2000 strategy;
(iii) to give the support required to measures to promote the health of farm workers, particularly at local level;
(iv) to strengthen the collaboration of the Regional Office with the specialized bodies of the United Nations, more especially FAO, ILO, UNIDO, UNEP and UNICEF, the regional bodies such as OAU and ECA in particular, and the non-governmental bodies concerned, for the integrated planning and implementation of health and social programmes for farm workers;
(v) to keep the Regional Committee informed of the measures taken and the projects carried out in this field;
3. REQUESTS the Regional Director to transmit this resolution to the Director-General.
September 1986 36, 18
