Regional Committee resolutions

Dengue: Call for urgent interventions for a rapidly expanding emerging disease [pdf 100kb] – Arabic | French

This paper describes the current situation in the Region and proposes specific areas for strengthening of core capacities in the short, medium and long term to reduce the threat of this emerging disease, which threatens national, regional and global health security. The means of prevention and control are well identified and require partnership between different sectors.

Resolution: English | Arabic | French

Infection prevention and control in health care: time for collaborative action [pdf 95kb] – Arabic | French

Infections acquired during health care delivery, more appropriately called health care-associated infections (HAIs), are a significant public health problem around the world. The objective of this paper is to draw attention to the hitherto unrecognized public health problem emerging from health care-associated infections in the Region and provide evidence that a considerable proportion of the burden of disease attributable to health care-associated infections can be prevented with low-cost interventions.  

Resolution: English | Arabic | French

The growing threats of Hepatitis B and C in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A call for action [pdf 750kb] – Arabic | French

Chronic liver disease related to viral hepatitis has emerged as a leading public health problem in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. This paper raises awareness regarding the burden of disease related to viral hepatitis and the need for urgent action to prevent hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus transmission. Despite the availability of effective prevention strategies, HBV and HCV transmission occurs throughout the Region. Implementation of infection control, injection safety and blood safety programmes are major challenges.

Resolution: English | Arabic | French

Growing threat of viral haemorrhagic fevers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a call for action [pdf 87kb] – Arabic 

The emergence of viral haemorrhagic fevers is a growing concern worldwide and in the Region, with social and environmental factors contributing to their wide spread in some countries. This paper discusses the factors contributing to the rising burden and the challenges facing early detection, laboratory confirmation and rapid response to outbreaks and proposes strategic directions for prevention and control.

Resolution: English | Arabic | French

Regional strategy on preparedness and response for human pandemic influenza [pdf 70kb] – Arabic

Experts believe that the increasing outbreaks of influenza A (H5N1) among poultry and humans have moved the world closer to a pandemic than any time since 1968. If this virus acquires the ability to spread efficiently from human to human, all of the prerequisites for an influenza pandemic will be fulfilled. The regional strategy on pandemic influenza preparedness and response aims at enhancing the capacity of countries to undertake the actions laid out in the WHO global influenza preparedness plan and in national preparedness plans. The Regional Committee is invited to endorse the regional strategy on preparedness and response for human pandemic influenza. 

Resolution: English | Arabic | French

Proposed revision of the International Health Regulations [pdf 77kb] – Arabic

International travel and trade are major factors in the international spread of infectious diseases. People and goods are crossing national borders in massive numbers, unparalleled in human history. Prevention of international spread of infectious diseases has been addressed through a multilateral initiative by countries to provide a legally binding set of regulations and code of measures that harmonize the protection of public health without unnecessary disruption of trade and travel.

Resolution: English | Arabic

Main challenges in the control of zoonotic diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region [pdf 77kb] – Arabic

Control of zoonoses constitutes an important health matter. However, many factors involved in prevention and control of zoonotic infections cannot be addressed by the health sector alone. High-level commitment and the ability of national programmes to mobilize the necessary resources and to collaborate closely with other relevant sectors are needed in order to cope with the common challenges in control of zoonoses.

Resolution: English | Arabic