University of Zambia Medical Library

Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of AIDS
(Resolution WHA40.26 of the Fortieth World Health Assembly, WHO)

Deeply concerned that this disease, caused by one or more naturallyoccurring retroviruses of undetermined geographical origin, hasassumed pandemic proportions affecting all regions of the worldand represents a threat to the attainment of health for all;

Realizing that the transmission of AIDS can be prevented, thatinformation is an essential element of all action for the controlof AIDS, and that every individual has a responsibility;

Reiterating that information and education on the modes of transmission,as well as the availability and use of safe blood and blood products,and sterile practices in invasive procedures, are still the onlymeasures that can limit the further spread of AIDS;

Convinced of the crucial importance of countries' closely integratingtheir programmes for the prevention and control of AIDS withintheir health systems based on primary health care;

Impressed by the accelerated response of WHO to this emergencyduring the past year;

Noting with satisfaction that WHO has invested funds from itsregular 1986-1987 budget to deal with this serious public healthproblem despite current financial constraints;

Grateful to all those whose generous extrabudgetary contributionshave made it possible to give the required momentum to WHO's effortsto combat AIDS;

Stressing the need for substantial additional voluntary contributionsto permit WHO to fulfil its international directing and coordinatingrole in this field;

Emphasizing that all contributing countries are protecting thehealth of their own people no less than that of others, sinceAIDS knows no geographical boundaries;

Realizing that the worldwide emergency created by AIDS will requireurgent and vigorous globally directed action in the developmentof epidemiological surveillance, the intensification of researchin prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment, including socialscience research, the training of national health workers andother relevant areas of prevention, control and research;

Recognizing that, due to the relatively long incubation periodof the disease and the large number of people already infected,the worldwide number of AIDS cases will continue to rise in thenext few years irrespective of public health strategies to preventviral transmission;

• CONFIRMS that WHO should continue to fulfil its role of directingand coordinating the global, urgent and energetic fight againstAIDS;
• ENDORSES the establishment of a Special Programme on AIDS andstresses its high priority;
• FURTHER ENDORSES the global strategy and programme structureprepared by WHO to combat AIDS;
• URGES Member States:
  • to establish or strengthen effective programmes to combatAIDS in line with the above-mentioned global strategy and recommendationsof the third meeting of participating parties, and to ensure thatcontrol is integrated into the existing system based on primaryhealth care, and is based on effective educational and preventivemeasures to enable each person to protect himself/herself fromthe disease;
  • to cooperate fully with one another in facing this worldwideemergency within the context of the policy of technical cooperationamong countries through the adoption of compatible programmesand transfer of appropriate technology;
  • to share in full openness with WHO and with other Member Statesall relevant and reliable information on AIDS and related infections;
• URGES Member States to make voluntary contributions in cashand kind for the implementation of the global strategy
• APPEALS to bilateral and multilateral agencies, as well asnongovernmental and voluntary organizations, to support the worldwidestruggle against AIDS in conformity with WHO's global strategy
• REQUESTS the regional committees:
  • to keep the situation concerning AIDS in the regions underconstant review
  • to ensure that regional resources to combat AIDS are usedin conformity with the global strategy
  • to report annually to the Director-General on the situationin the regions
• REQUESTS the Executive Board to review yearly until furthernotice the global epidemiological situation concerning AIDS andprogress in implementing WHO's global strategy to combat it;
• REQUESTS the Director-General:
  • to ensure that the global strategy to combat AIDS is effectivelyimplemented by the Organization at all levels - country, regionaland global - with the aim of containing, progressively reducingand eventually stopping the spread of the infection
  • to assert WHO's international directing and coordinating rolein support of national AIDS programmes
  • to support national AIDS prevention and control programmes,keeping due balance with other health programmes and ensuringadequate coordination and cooperation between the governmentsconcerned, WHO and other external partners
  • to continue to develop effective strategies to prevent thetransmission of AIDS, including social and behavioural researchand advocacy of the role of women in preventing transmission;
  • to reinforce the Organization's support to Member States indesigning or strengthening, implementing, monitoring and evaluatingnational programmes for AIDS prevention and control;
  • to issue guidance on the prevention and control of AIDS ona continuing basis as new information comes to light and the SpecialProgramme evolves;
  • to continue to seek extrabudgetary funds to implement theglobal AIDS strategy;
  • to establish a Special Account for AIDS in the Voluntary Fundfor Health Promotion;
  • to report on the matter to the Executive Board and to theHealth Assembly annually.

Twelfth plenary meeting, 15 May 1997 - Committee A, third report.

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Last updated November 30, 1997

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