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D u r i n g its t w e l f t h s e s s i o n , t h e R e g i o n a l C o m m i t t e e for A f r i c a a d o p t e d

r e s o l u t i o n A F R / R C 1 2 / R 2 2 , m a k i n g L e o p o l d v i l l e the v e n u e of its t h i r t e e n t h s e s s i o n .

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page 2

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APR/RC13/Min/l Rev/1

page 4

I , O P E N I N G O P R E G I O N A L ССШ1ТТЕЕ S E S S I O N : Item 1 o f t h e P r o v i s i o n a l A g e n d a •

T h e C H A I R M A N d e c l a r e d t h e t h i r t e e n t h s e s s i o n of t h e R e g i o n a l C o m m i t t e e o p e n .

T h e D I R E C T O R - G E N E R A L , w e l c o m i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s t o t h e s e s s i o n , s a i d t h a t h e

h a d r e c e n t l y a t t e n d e d t h e R e g i o n a l C o m m i t t e e f o r t h e A m e r i c a s in W a s h i n g t o n a n d

t h e R e g i o n a l C o m m i t t e e for E u r o p e in S t o c k h o l m a n d h a d b e e n v e r y h a p p y t o see t h e

d e v e l o p m e n t of w o r k in t h e R e g i o n s a n d t h e c o - o p e r a t i o n of M e m b e r c o u n t r i e s . H e

w i s h e d t h e R e g i o n a l C o m m i t t e e for A f r i c a a v e r y s u c c e s s f u l a n d f r u i t f u l m e e t i n g

w h i c h w o u l d r e s u l t in t h e i m p r o v e m e n t of t h e h e a l t h s i t u a t i o n in a l l t h e c o u n t r i e s

in t h e R e g i o n .

T h e R E G I O N A L D I R E C T O R a d d r e s s e d t h e m e e t i n g .1

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1 S e e A n n e x t o t h e s e m i n u t e s

APR/RCl^/Min/l Rev.l

ANNEX page 1

S P E E C H BY Ш J. С. C A M B O U R N A C , R E G I O N A L D I R E C T O R

•л. ’ •::、: : L г “.. . . 工 a m m o s t h a p p y t o r e p o r t t h a t t h i s y e a r t h r e e n e w c o u n t r i e s h a v e b e c o m e

i n d e p e n d e n t in o u r A f r i c a n R e g i o n . T h i s h a s b e e n t h e o u t s t a n d i n g f e a t u r e p f t h e

p a s t y e a r . U g a n d a , t h e R e p u b l i c of R w a n d a a n d t h e K i n g d o m o f B u r u n d i , w h i c h a r e

n o w i n d e p e n d e n t 9 in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h a m o v e m e n t • w h i c h is b e c o m i n g e v e r f a s t e r in

A f r i c a , d e c i d e d a l m o s t a t o n c e t o b e c o m e f u l l M e m b e r s o f t h e W o r l d H e a l t h O r g a n i z a t i o n .

F u r t h e r , in M a y l a s t , in G e n e v a , d u r i n g t h e S i x t e e n t h W o r l d H e a l t h A s s e m b l y ,

K e n y a a n d M a u r i t i u s b e c a m e A s s o c i a t e M e m b e r s of W H O .

I a m s i n c e r e l y h a p p y t o b e a b l e t o r e p e a t h e r e m y w a r m e s t c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s t o

t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e s e t h r e e c o u n t r i e s . 工 w o u l d a s k t h e m t o b e s o g o o d a s

t o t r a n s m i t m y b e s t w i s h e s , a n d t h o s e o f o u r O r g a n i z a t i o n , t o t h e i r g o v e r n m e n t s a n d

p e o p l e s , for: a h a p p y , h e a l t h y , a n d p r o s p e r o u s f u t u r e •

I t is m y e a r n e s t w i s h t h a t t h e o t h e r c o u n t r i e s a n d t e r r i t o r i e s w h i c h w i l l b e c o m e

i n d e p e n d e n t w i l l j o i n o u r O r g a n i z a t i o n a s f u l l M e m b e r s a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e s o a s t o

t a k e p a r t in t h e g r e a t h u m a n i t a r i a n t a s k o f W H O . A t p r e s e n t , t h e O r g a n i z a t i o n

a l r e a d y h a s 2 5 M e m b e r S t a t e s , a n d t h r e e A s s o c i a t e M e m b e r s , i n t h e A f r i c a n R e g i o n ,

I n t h e W o r l d H e a l t h‘Orga n i z a t i o n w e d o o u r u t m o s t t o m e ç t t h e g r o w i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s

o f o u r M e m b e r S t a t e s . F u r t h e r W H O R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s h a v e b e e n a p p o i n t e d t o I m p r o v e

a n d r e i n f o r c e t h e l i n k b e t w e e n t h e R e g i o n a l O f f i c e a n d t h e o o u n t r i e s in t h e R e g i o n .

T h e s e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a r e n o t m e r e l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r liaison； t h e y a r e a l s o a d v i s e r s ,

w i t h s p e c i a l e x p e r i e n c e in a l l aspects' of p u b l i c h e a l t h . W h e n a s s i g n e d t o any-

p a r t i c u l a r c o u n t r y , t h e y a r e w e l l p l a c e d t o f a c i l i t a t e s u c h h e l p a s W H O c a n g i v e t o

b r i n g a b o u t a n d p r o m o t e b e t t e r h e a l t h c o n d i t i o n s in t h e r e g i o n s . T h e W H O

R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s h a v e a l s o m a d e a m o s t u s e f u l c o n t r i b u t i o n in p r o v i d i n g l i a i s o n w i t h

t h e W H O s t a f f a t w o r k on c u r r e n t p r o j e c t sy a n d l i a i s o n w i t h t h e o t h e r a g e n c i e s a n d

o r g a n i z a t i o n s r e p r e s e n t e d t h e r e .

APR/RC13/Min/l Rev.l

Annex

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I am v e r y a n x i o u s t o e m p h a s i z e h o w c l o s e l y w e c o - o p e r a t e w i t h U N I C E F , F A O a n d

U N E S C O , W e m a i n t a i n c l o s e c o n t a c t s , t o o , w i t h t h e E c o n o m i c C o m m i s s i o n f o r A f r i c a

( E C A ) , t h e C C T A , t h e E a s t A f r i c a C o m m o n S e r v i c e s O r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e I C C , t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s A I D , t h e A f r i c a n a n d M a l a g a s y O r g a n i z a t i o n f o r E c o n o m i c C o - o p e r a t i o n ( O A M C E ) ,

a n d t h e O C C G E .

T h e n e e d f o r c o - o r d i n a t i o n a n d c o - o p e r a t i o n c a n n o t be o v e r - e s t i m a t e d , s i n c e

p u b l i c h e a l t h p l a y s a n e s s e n t i a l p a r t in t h e e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t of a l l

t h e c o u n t r i e s . In w h a t e v e r W H O u n d e r t a k e s in A f r i c a , w e h a v e n e v e r l o s t s i g h t of

t h i s f a c t , a n d t h e fact t h a t W H O m u s t c o n t r i b u t e , t o t h e l i m i t of its r e s o u r c e s , t o

t h e p r o g r a m m e u n d e r t a k e n i n c o n n e x i o n w i t h t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s D e c a d e . I n a d d i t i o n ,

w e a r e c o n t i n u a l l y f i n d i n g f r e s h s u b j e c t s of ссшзшоп in t e r e s t t o W H O a n d t o t h e

E c o n o m i c C o m m i s s i o n for A f r i c a . A m o n g s t t h e m a r e t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of s o c i a l s e r v i c e s ,

r u r a l p r o b l e m s a n d t h e i r c o n s e q u e n c e s a n d e f f e c t s in t h e r e a l m of h o u s i n g ,

e n v i r o n m e n t a l h e a l t h , n u t r i t i o n , c o m m u n i t y d e v e l o p m e n t , s t a t i s t i c a l s e r v i c e s , a n d

d e v e l o p m e n t s in t h e s t a t u s of w o m e n .

W e k n o w t h a t w h a t is m o s t i m p o r t a n t in e n s u r i n g t h e s o l i d i t y o f a b u i l d i n g is

t h e f o u n d a t i o n . H e n c e t h e g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e o f s e t t i n g u p r e l i a b l e p u b l i c h e a l t h

s e r v i c e s a n d of i n c r e a s i n g e d u c a t i o n a n d t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m m e s for p e r s o n s a c t i v e in

t h e f i e l d of p u b l i c h e a l t h , in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h r e q u i r e m e n t s .

F o r e x a m p l e , n o m a s s c a m p a i g n a g a i n s t m a l a r i a c a n h o p e f o r f i n a l s u c c e s s u n l e s s

b a s e d on p e r m a n e n t , r e l i a b l e h e a l t h s e r v i c e s , e x t e n d i n g t o t h e r e m o t e s t r u r a l a r e a s .

S t a t i s t i c a l a n d d e m o g r a p h i c s t u d i e s , t o o , a r e of g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e f o r e f f e c t i v e

p l a n n i n g .

W i t h i n t h e r e l a t i v e l y n e a r f u t u r e , t h e r e w i l l a l m o s t c e r t a i n l y be a c o n s i d e r a b l e

i n c r e a s e in p o p u l a t i o n in A f r i c a a s a r e s u l t of t h e p r o g r e s s m a d e in e v e r y f i e l d .

T h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f t h i s in t h e r e a l m o f h e a l t h a r e c l e a r , a n d n a t i o n a l p u b l i c h e a l t h

s e r v i c e s w i l l h a v e t o p r o v i d e for a s u i t a b l e e x p a n s i o n .

13/Min/l Rev.l

It is g e n e r a l l y a d m i t t e d t h a t p r o g r e s s in s o c i a l , e c o n o m i c , a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l

m a t t e r s is n o t w i t h o u t d a n g e r , a n d t h a t p r o p e r p l a n n i n g a n d c o m p e t e n t s e r v i c e s s h o u l d

elimirvate t h e r i s k s e n t a i l e d .

W i t h o u t g o i n g i n t o d e t a i l s , I s h o u l d l i k e t o g i v e y o u a n e x a m p l e of w h a t c a n

be a v o i d e d . A v e r y s e r i o u s s i t u a t i o n e x i s t s in c e r t a i n p l a c e s w h e r e a g r i c u l t u r a l

m o d e r n i z a t i o n , i n v o l v i n g i r r i g a t i o n , m a y l e a d t o t h e l a r g e - s c a l e p r o p a g a t i o n of

b i l h a r z i a .

) T h e r a n d o m s e t t i n g u p of n e w i n d u s t r i e s , a l s o , m a y lead t o a t m o s p h e r i c a n d w a t e r

p o l l u t i o n . In g e n e r a l , i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n m e a n s m o r e a c c i d e n t s a t w o r k , on t h e r o a d s ,

a n d in t h e h o m e . T h e p h e n o m e n o n o f u r b a n i z a t i o n , vîich i n d u c e s t h o u s a n d s of

p e a s a n t s t o m i g r a t e t o c o n s t a n t l y e x p a n d i n g t o w n s , l e a d s t o f u r t h e r p r o b l e m s in

e n v i r o n m e n t a l h e a l t h (in t h e p o o r e s t d i s t r i c t s of s u c h t o w n s ) a n d in t h e f i e l d of

m e n t a l h e a l t h , b e c a u s e t h e s e p e a s a n t s are s u d d e n l y c u t off frcro t h e i r a n c e s t r a l w a y

of l i f e , a n d n o t h i n g in t h o s e 'sprawling t o w n s r e p l a c e s w h a t t h e y h a v e l o s t .

A c c o r d i n g l y a r e a l i s t i c p l a n n i n g of h e a l t h s e r v i c e s is e s s e n t i a l if a n o r d e r

of i m p o r t a n c e is t o b e a s s i g n e d t o r e q u i r e m e n t s , so t h a t a s s i s t a n c e c o m i n g from

a b r o a d can b e u s e d a t t h e r i g h t p l a c e a n d a t t h e r i g h t t i m e .

U n f o r t u n a t e l y , r e q u i r e m e n t s are a l m o s t a l w a y s in e x c e s s of t h e m e a n s of

, a s s i s t a n c e a v a i l a b l e . It is t h e r e f o r e e v i d e n t t h a t a g e n e r a l a n d c o n c e r t e d p l a n of

d e v e l o p m e n t is d e s i r a b l e , so t h a t a n y s c r a p o f a s s i s t a n c e m a y b e put t o t h e b e s t

p o s s i b l e u s e .

T h e A f r i c a n R e g i o n of W H O is e n o r m o u s a n d its p r o b l e m s f o r m i d a b l e • T h e g o o d w i l l

a n d a s s i s t a n c e of a l l a r e q u i t e c e r t a i n l y n o t o n l y w e l c o m e b u t e s s e n t i a l . T h e r e is

w o r k for a l l w h o a r e a n x i o u s t o s h a r e in t h e e f f o r t s b e i n g m a d e b y t h e s e c o u n t r i e s

in t h e i r c a m p a i g n a g a i n s t s i c k n e s s , t h e i r e f f o r t s t o improve p u b l i c h e a l t h , a n d t h e i r

s t r u g g l e f o r a h i g h e r s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g . I n o t h e r w o r d s , a s s i s t a n c e d o e s n o t

i n v o l v e competition； t h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g is t o u n d e r t a k e a p r o p e r l y c o - o r d i n a t e d

c a m p a i g n t o o b t a i n t h e b e s t r e s u l t s from t h e a v a i l a b l e r e s o u r c e s . O t h e r w i s e w e

s h o u l d be w a s t i n g o u r t i m e , o u r e n e r g y , a n d o u r m o n e y . R e a s o n t e l l s u s t h a t t h e

o n l y w a y t o s u c c e s s is b y c o - o p e r a t i o n a n d c o - o r d i n a t i o n of t h e e f f o r t s o f a l l

a s p i r i n g t o t h e s a m e e n d , t h i s end b e i n g t h e i m p r o v e m e n t of t h e h e a l t h a n d s t a n d a r d s

o f l i v i n g of a l l t h e i n h a b i t a n t s of A f r i c a .

AFR/RC13/Miñ/Í -Rev：! •

Annex

Generally speaking, our Regional Office follows a policy aiming at setting up

an effective organization in these countries, capable of providing preventive and

remedial action as part of a well-balanced organic programme.

I am convinced that World Health Organization activities in Africa must, as in

the past, concentrate on four essential points: the reinforcement of national health

services, increased efforts to train a more numerous sanitary staff, improvement of

nutrition and environmental health, and, lastly, the campaign against the principal

communicable diseases, which is, of course, by no means the least important of these

four points.

As 工 have already said at our previous meetings, co-operation is essential, and

not only at government level, at international level, at the bilateral level and at

the level of programme implementation. It is necessary, as well, if the great mass

of the people in each country is to co-operate and take an active part. in these

health programmes,

No mass campaign is possible without the help and understanding of the public

at large. Accordingly we must always be mindful of the importance of educating the

public in health matters and of securing the support of a well-informed public

opinion. Public information provided at the national level will enable people to

appreciate the importance of health and welfare programmes for the country as a whole.

Despite ever-present budget difficulties, the position with regard to the funds

available to the Regional Office is now more satisfactory than in the past, especially

vdien we had to cope with urgent needs deriving from the rapid expansion ； ^ l i c h followed

t h e a c c e s s i o n of s e v e r a l c o u n t r i e s t o i n d e p e n d e n c e b e t w e e n 1 9 5 9 a n d I 9 6 I . H o w e v e r ,

these problems remain numerous and difficult, and we shall in future have to provide

for a good deal more money if we are to cope with the most pressing needs.

It might be a little misleading to make a purely arithmetic comparison between

the number of projects now under way and the number of projects undertaken in previous

years. As you know, many projects have been amalgamated or reassembled to ensure

better co-ordination between various branches of the health campaign• In addition,

APR/RC5/Min/l Rev.l

Annex

page 2

t h e r e h a s b e e n a g r e a t i n c r e a s e in w o r k , n o t r e f l e c t e d in t h e n u m b e r of p r o j e c t s , due

t o t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of h e a l t h a c t i v i t i e s d i r e c t l y b o u n d u p w i t h c o m m u n i t y d e v e l o p m e n t

p r o g r a m m e s . H o w e v e r , t h e r e h a s b e e n a c o n s t a n t i n c r e a s e in t h e n u m b e r of p r o j e c t s

u n d e r t a k e n b y t h e R e g i o n a l O f f i c e , since it w a s set u p in B r a z z a v i l l e in 1 9 5 2 . A t

t h a t t i m e , t h e r e w e r e 15 p r o j e c t s u n d e r w a y , a n d in 1 9 5 2 4 5 f e l l o w s h i p s w e r e a w a r d e d

for. t h e A f r i c a n R e g i o n . In i 9 6 0 , t h e r e w e r e 67 p r o j e c t s a n d 118 f e l l o w s h i p s . F o r

t h e c u r r e n t y e a r , 1 9 6 3 , w e h a v e 1 7 8 p r o j e c t s u n d e r w a y w h i l e n o less t h a n 2 8 5

fellowships have been awarded by WHO in Africa, without even counting the fellowships

awarded to the Republic of the Congo (Leopoldville), which.continues to receive

d i r e c t W H O a s s i s t a n c e t h r o u g h W H O h e a d q u a r t e r s in G e n e v a •

L o o k i n g a h e a d , w e see t h a t for 1 9 6 5 , m o r e t h a n 3 2 0 p r o j e c t s a r e p l a n n e d f or t h e

A f r i c a n R e g i o n . In 1 9 6 4 , we h o p e t o be a b l e t o a w a r d m o r e t h a n 4 0 0 f e l l o w s h i p s .

In t h e f i e l d of e n v i r o n m e n t a l h e a l t h , t h e r e h a s b e e n a m u l t i p l i c a t i o n of

p r o b l e m s , b e c a u s e of t h e e x c e e d i n g l y r a p i d e x p a n s i o n of p o p u l a t i o n a n d t h e r a p i d

growth of towns in Africa. It is estimated that to cope with the increased demand

for w a t e r , for e x a m p l e , c o u n t r i e s s h o u l d d e v o t e from t h r e e - q u a r t e r s p e r c e n t , t o

one p e r c e n t , of t h e i r o v e r - a l l n a t i o n a l i n c o m e t o p r o g r a m m e s of p u b l i c w a t e r s u p p l y .

The majority of the governments have displayed a lively interest in WHO

a s s i s t a n c e for t h e s e p r o g r a m m e s • It is c e r t a i n t h a t a g r e a t d e a l c o u l d be d o n e in

t h e f u t u r e if e n o u g h m o n e y w e r e a v a i l a b l e .

Before concluding, I wish to observe that the Regional Office has been obliged

t o m a k e c e r t a i n s t a f f c h a n g e s a n d t o p r o v i d e for a n e x p a n s i o n of s t a f f t o cope w i t h

e x i s t i n g a n d f u t u r e r e q u i r e m e n t s . I t s t a s k s o u g h t t o be c o n s i d e r a b l y f a c i l i t a t e d a s

a r e s u l t . O n e a p p r e c i a b l e i m p r o v e m e n t w i l l be t h e e x t e n s i o n o f t h e b u i l d i n g

o c c u p i e d b y t h e R e g i o n a l O f f i c e a n d t h e p l a n n e d c o n s t r u c t i o n of a b u i l d i n g t o

a c c o m m o d a t e its s t a f f . T h i s w i l l m a k e f u r t h e r r e c r u i t m e n t a p p r e c i a b l y e a s i e r . 工

am c o n v i n c e d t h a t , w i t h t h e R e g i o n a l O f f i c e o r g a n i z e d as it is a t p r e s e n t , t h e w o r k

of VfflO in Africa will expand very considerably indeed, provided only that the

n e c e s s a r y c r e d i t s a r e a v a i l a b l e . 工 w i s h t o t a k e t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y of e x p r e s s i n g m y

gratitude to the governments of the African Region which have already made a most

g e n e r o u s c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e e x t e n s i o n o f o u r R e g i o n a l O f f i c e .

AFR/RC13/Min/l Rev.l Annex page б :……

May I, once more, express our gratitude tc the French Government for its great

generosity in offering us the ownership of the ground and buildings of Le Djoué.

I would oncê more express my gratitude for the assistance constantly given us

by the Government, the authorities and the people of the Republic of the Congo and

of its capital Brazzaville, where our Regional Office is. We are fully mindful of

their never-failing generosity towards WHO and of their understanding of our problems.

May I, Mr Chairman, conclude by offering my sincerest thanks to all the countries

of the Region for their co-operation and their repeated marks of confidence, for their

assistance, and for their ever-increasing interest in the work undertaken by WHO.

Our task, although difficult, is exhilarating. Our aim will be attained only when

every African man, woman, and child has reached the highest possible level of health.

Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish you a most* successful meeting. Your

deliberations and your décisions will provide valuable guidance for the work of WHO

in Africa during the years to come.



R E G I O N A L C O M M I T T E E F O R A F R I C A A F R / R C 1 3 / M i n / 2 R e v . l

Ï5 N o v e m b e r 1 9 6 3

T h i r t e e n t h S e s s i o n

G e n e v a , 2 3 - 2 4 S e p t e m b e r 196， O R I G I N A L : E N G L I S H

M I N U T E S O F T H E S E C O N D M E E T I N G

P a l a i s d e s N a t i o n s , G e n e v a

M o n d a y , 2 3 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 6 3 , a t 1 1 . 1 5 a . m .

C H A I R M A N : D r В. A . B â ( M a u r i t a n i a )

L a t e r : D r I . S . Kadaraa (Uganda)

C O N T E N T S

P a g e

1 . E l e c t i o n o f C h a i r m a n V i c e - C h a i r m e n a n d R a p p o r t e u r s

2 . D e s i g n a t i o n of C h a i r m a n for T e c h n i c a l d i s c u s s i o n s

3 . A d o p t i o n of P r o v i s i o n a l A g e n d a 3

A F R / R C 1 3 / M i n / 2 Rev.l:

丨/ 1Л

p a g e 2 : ‘ V,：'： ‘ ‘ . . • : , — — . .

1 . E L E C T I O N O F C H A I R M A N , V I C E - C H A I R M E N AND R A P P O R T E U R S : Item 2 of t h e

P r o v i s i o n a l A g e n d a .

D r A L A K I J A (Nigeria) p r o p o s e d D r K a d a m a (Uganda) a s C h a i r m a n j

D r T C H O U N G U I (Cameroon) s e c o n d e d t h e p r o p o s a l .

D e c i s i o n : D r K a d a m a w a s u n a n i m o u s l y e l e c t e d and t o o k t h e C h a i r .

T h e C H A I R M A N c a l l e d for n o m i n a t i o n s for t h e V i c e - C h a i r m e n .

D r L A M B I N (Upper V o l t a ) p r o p o s e d D r B o y e - J o h n s o n (Sierra L e o n e ) ;

D r B O G E R E (Uganda) s e c o n d e d t h e proposal..

D r A U J O U L A T (France) p r o p o s e d D r T c h o u n g u i (Cameroon); D r B O Y E - J O H N S O N

(Sierra L e o n e ) s e c o n d e d t h e p r o p o s a l .

D e c i s i o n : D r B o y e - J o h n s o n a n d D r T c h o u n g u i w e r e u n a n i m o u s l y e l e c t e d

V I c e - C h a i r m e n .

T h e C H A I R M A N , in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h R u l e 13 of thQ R u l e s of P r o c e d u r e for the

R e g i o n a l C o m m i t t e e , d e t e r m i n e d by lot t h a t D r B o y e - J o h n s o n s h o u l d b e first V i c e -

C h a i r m a n a n d D r T c h o u n g u i second V i c e - C h a i r m a n .

T h e C H A I R M A N c a l l e d for n o m i n a t i o n s for the R a p p o r t e u r s .

D r A K I M (Tanganyika) p r o p o s e d D r L i k i m a n i (Kenya) ； D r A L A K I J A (Nigeria)

s e c o n d e d t h e p r o p o s a l .

D e c i s i o n : D r L i k i m a n i w a s - u n a n i m o u s l y e l e c t e d R a p p o r t e u r •

AFR/RC13/Min/2 Rev.l

page 3

2, DESIGNATION OF CHAIRMAN POR TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS: Item ) of the Provisional Agenda.

Dr DOLO (Mali) proposed Dr Aujoulat (France)； Dr GAYE (Senegal) and Dr VOVOR

(Togo) seconded the proposal-

Decision; Dr Aujoulat was unanimously elected Chairman for Technical

Discussions.

5。 ADOPTION OP PROVISIONAL AGENDA: Item 4 of the Agenda (Document AFR/RCI3/I)

The CHAIRMAN invited the Committee to consider item 4.

Dr DOLO (Mali), speaking on a point of order, referred to the decisions of the

recent meeting of the heads of African states in Addis Ababa and the political

situation which had occasioned them. In present circumstances, it was impossible

to dissociate technical and political problems； and the strictly African character

of the present meeting could not be reconciled with the South African Government1

s

policy of apartheid or the Portuguese Government1

s oppressive policy towards the

African people. The African Members of WHO considered it their duty to fight all

such policies with determination; and the African representatives present were

therefore unable to take part in a meeting attended by representatives of the

Governments of Portugal and South Africa.

The representatives of the African countries had accordingly decided, in

pursuance of decisions of the Addis Ababa Conference, to call for the closure of the

present session if the representatives of Portugal and South Africa remained. They

also wished to express their complete and unconditional support for the peoples of

the territories still under the rule of Portugal and South Africa• They deeply

regretted being obliged to take such a stand because of the inhuman attitude of the

governments of those two countries.


page 2

The DIRECTOR-GENERAL said that, as all representatives were aware, the subject

raised by the representative of Mali was even now being discussed at the United

Nations General Assembly. He appreciated that it was difficult for representatives

of governments to separate technical and political problems. He reminded them,

however, that at its twelfth session the Regional Committee had submitted the matter

to the World Health Assembly and many of the representatives had been present at the

Sixteenth World Health Assembly and had voted for resolution WHA16.43 (quoted in full

on page 10 of document AFR/RCl)/斗）. In that resolution the World Health Assembly

had approved the actions taken to ensure the functioning of the African Regional

Organization and the fulfilment of the constitutional functions of the African

Regional Committee and had expressed the hope that Members of the Region would do

whatever possible to further the effective functioning of the African Regional

Organization. Regional meetings were held under Article 47 of the Constitution of

WHO and it would be very harmful to the Organization if the present session did not

take place.

While recognizing that the decision was in the hands of representatives, he

appealed to them not to forget that WHO'S aim was to work for the betterment of

health of the people of all countries. He hoped representatives would bear in mind

the constitutional aspects of the problem and the wishes of the World Health Assembly

and realize that it would be in the best interests of all the people of all the

African countries if the meeting were to continue.

Dr KEITA (Guinea) pointed out that resolution WHA16.43 had also drawn attention

to General Assembly resolution 17б1 (XVTI)y inviting the Government of the Republic

of South Africa to renounce the policy of apartheid, and had drawn attention to its

detrimental effect on the physical, mental and social well-being of the non-white

populations of South Africa.

The Assembly had decided as a provisional measure that the Regional Committee

should meet in Geneva or Brazzaville； but since the meeting of the heads of African

states, the position had changed because the Government of South Africa had strengthened

its policy of. apartheid.

AFR/RC13/Min/l Rev.l page 2

The proposal made by the representative of Mali in the name of all the countries

of Africa meant that they could not accept the continued presence of a South African

representative among them. It was a fundamental, not a sentimental matter, for the

presence of South Africa would place WHO in a false position.

Dr AIAKIJA (Nigeria) said that the major powers had persistently used their

influence to exclude such nations as the Republic of China from the United Nations

and its specialized agencies. It was therefore not easy to understand why the new

African states could not now be allowed the same right with regard to the question

of the participation of South Africa and Portugal. Health, which was a matter of

universal importance, had been defined in the Charter as the attainment of both the

mental and physical well-being of all peoples. However, it was difficult to envisage

how the mental well-being of the South African people could be ensured under the

conditions prevailing in that country. He therefore wished to associate himself

with the statements made by the representatives of Guinea and Mali and to state that

he had received instructions from his Government to support any proposal for the

adjournment of the meeting which might be made in that connexion.

Dr DOLO (Mali) said that he wished to raise two points regarding resolution

WHA16.43 to which the Director-General had referred. In the first place, that

resolution dealt only with South Africa, whereas the present discussion was concerned

with Portugal as well； and, secondlyy the resolution had been passed at a time when

the conclusions reached by the heads of state at their meeting in Addis Ababa were

still unknown.

He recalled that at the Sixteenth Session of the World Health Assembly he had

stressed that the prime need was for a man to live in dignity, without vîich it was

preferable for him to die in misery. That view was held by all Africans and was

fundamental to the life of their countries.

The Committee would therefore have to make a choice between the African states,

on the one hand, and Portugal and South. Africa on the other.

AFR/RCl)/Min/2 Rev.l page б

Dr LAMBIN (Upper Volta ) pointed out that the Committee was composed of both

politicians and technicians, but all were representatives of their governments.

Moreover, the self-same. African states which.attended the Addis Ababa conference

were now represented at the Regional Committee's meeting. The Addis Ababa conference

had reached decisions, the importance of which had been recognized throughout the

world, and practical measures were being taken for their implementation. There

was therefqre no question of dissociating the political from the health factor and

he wholeheartedly supported the views expressed by his colleague from Mali, which

were shared by all truly African nations• Whatever the consequences, a solution

had to be found forthwith which would enable the Committee either to continue its

work or to suspericl the debate.

Mr SCOTT (United Kingdom) wished to ask the Director-General whether the Committee

could constitutionally make a choice between the membership of the African states

and that of Portugal and South Africa. The position was that, under the

Constitution, certain full Members whose presence gave offence to some though not

all Members had been nominated Members of this Regional Committee. It would

therefore appear that the point at issue was not whether a choice might be made

between the African states, on the one hand, and Portugal and South Africa, on the

other, but whether the concept of, the universality of the Organization were accepted.

The World Health Organization was a universal association and the principle of

universality had always been strongly supported by the United Kingdom Government.

Its delegation had, at the Security Council meetirog held the previous month, once

^gain placed upon record its distaste at the racial policy of the South African

Government. However, to take the step of expelling a Member State or of refusing

to sit with it was to call into question the very principle of such universality.

The question could apparently only be resolved by an amendment of the Constitution

itself and it was precisely upon the legal and constitutional aspects of the problem

that the attention of Members should be focused. If it were correct to assume that

only the World Health Assembly were empowered to alter the composition of the

Committee - and he would, be grateful if the Director-General would confirm that he

was correct in his assumption. - then the Committee should proceed with the work before

it and refer the matter under discussion to the next session of the World Health Assembly.


Dr EA (Mauritania) regretted that the United Kingdom representative had spoken

of universality* Did that apply to those who excluded, or to those who were

excluded?

Fully concurring with the opinions which had been voiced by previous African

speakers, he said that the text which governed the Committee's composition did not

also authorize certain Members to take advantage of African nations. They had been

too patient but the hour was fast approaching when those who would profit at their

expense would not even have the time to express themselves. If it were true that

the Organization's aim was to secure the well-being of all men, then, irrespective

of colour and race, it should ensure that the African was treated as an equal in

his own home.

As a result of the Addis Ababa meeting, it was impossible for Africans to sit

together with representatives fran Portugal and South Africa. The Directors of the

World Health Organization as well as those of other international organizations would

have to make a choice• The African nations had gone beyond the stage of rules and

regulations, behind vîich certain Members tried to hide. In their own continent

they were in the majority and their wishes on the question would have to prevail.

Dr КЕГГА (Guinea) said that, by its constant refusal over the years to accept

the various resolutions submitted on the subject, the South African Government had

failed to respect those clauses of the Constitution calling for the attainment of

physical and mental health by the populations of the world. A radical solution was

therefore needed, which would at the same time ensure the efficient working of the

Organization in the future. As none had been found at the United Nations' meetings

in New York, the initiative should be taken by the Canmittee. Constitutionally, it

was not possible to expel the Portuguese and South African representatives from the

meeting and the best solution would therefore be for them to leave voluntarily. If

they did not, however, there was nothing to prevent the African states from leaving

themselves and he had instructions from his Government to do so if it proved

necessary. The United Kingdom representative had proposed that the question be

postponed for consideration by the following World Health Assembly but it was essential

for a solution to be found immediately. As far as the difficulties concerning the

Constitution were concerned, it had been drawn up by Members of the Organization and

could therefore be modified as they saw fit.


Dr DOLO (Mali) wished to emphasize- that, in his comments on South Africa and

Portugal, he was referring to the Governments of those countries and not to their

populations.

As far as the Constitution was concerned it was regarded by African nations, who

were in a state of evolution, as a means to an end and not as an end in itself. If

necessary, it should be moulded accordingly but, if that were not possible, it should

be put aside. •

Dr AUJOULAT (France) said he respected the feelings of his African colleagues

vfho had spoken forcefully on a problem which had cane before the Committee for the

third time. He had hoped that the resolution passed by the Sixteenth World Health

Assembly would provide a respite and enable the United Nations, as the sole body-

empowered to do so, to find a solution. Now, however, the Addis Ababa conference

had made its position very clear in no uncertain terms. His African colleagues had

thus set the Organization a problem vrtiich was very difficult to solve； and to the

extent that it involved a choice between two African groups he could not see that the

Constitution would provide a solution• The problem was not solely an emotional one；

it was a political and also a legal and constitutional one. It would seem best,

therefore, to leave it to the Directors to examine the problem, in consultation with

the two groups, and see if a solution could be found. He suggested that the meeting

should be suspended to allow the necessary discussions to take place.

Dr HAMAT BA (Senegal) said that the problem was not a new one； it had been

debated at great length at the Sixteenth World Health Assembly and the Director-General

had kindly reminded the Committee of resolution WHA16.43. Operative clause 5 of

that resolution in fact expressed the hope that Members of the region would do

everything possible to further the good functioning of the African Regional

Organization, promote the humanitarian goals of the World Health Organization and

protect the health rights of the South African population. The Members of the

region had helped to draft the resolution, adopted it and made the efforts called for • • . ‘ . . . г"- .

by it. But there was also another important point s clause 4 invited the Government

of the Republic of South Africa to take appropriate measures so that all the

population of South Africa should benefit by the public health services of the country. • • _ .；

：

Nothing had been heard of what the South African Government and the Directorate of

WHO had been able to do in this way.


The effort should not be expected solely from the Independent states of Africa.

The present Government of South Africa must not continue to scorn both the United

Nations Charter and the resolutions of WHO.

The Committee must therefore decide now whether it must go on being satisfied

with platonic invitations or whether it must take appropriate measures.

The attitude to adopt in the circumstances is simple； it is that which the

representative of Mali adopted in the name of all the independent states of Africa.

The question of Portugal was simpler and did not really need discussion, for

most of the countries represented at the present meeting had already broken off

relations with Portugal.

The REGIONAL DIRECTOR read out Rule 31 of the Rules of Procedure and asked the

representative of France if he wished to make a formal proposal of his suggestion

that the meeting should be suspended.

Dr AUJOULAT (France) moved the suspension of the meeting for the reasons he

had already explained.

The CHAIRMAN invited the meeting to vote on the motion for suspension.

Decision: The motion was adopted by 18 votes to one with no abstentions•

The CHAIRMAN stressed the vital importance of the question before the Regional

Committee and urged representatives to give it the most careful thought and

consideration. He suggested that the meeting should be resumed the following

morning to give representatives ample time.

The meeting rose at 12.30 p.nu



REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA AFR/RCl^/Min/， Rev.l 15 November 1963

Thirteenth Session Geneva, 2^-24 September 196歹 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

MINUTES OF THE THIRD MEETING

Palais des Nations, Geneva Tuesday, 24 September 196^, at 10 a.m.

CHAIRMAN: Dr I. S. KADAMA (Uganda)

CONTENTS

Page

1. Adoption of Provisional Agenda (continued) 2


1. ADOPTION OF PROVISIONAL AGENDA (continued) : Item 4 of the Agenda (document AFR/RCI3/I)

The CHAIRMAN, recalling that under Item 4 of the agenda the representative of

Mali had raised a point of order as a result of which the Committee had adjourned its

meeting the previous morning, invited representatives to voice the conclusions reached

by them in the intervening period.

Dr AUJOULAT (Prance) said that, in proposing the suspension of the meeting the

previous morning, he had hoped that in the interim a way would be found out of the

impasse which had been reached. It was difficult to believe that the African nations

were prepared to incur the considerable expense involved in the travel costs of their

representatives only to be represented at an abortive meeting lasting a few hours.

On the contrary, it appeared to be the desire of all that the thirteenth session

should follow its normal course.

When it came to making a spectacular gesture of refusal to sit with certain

Member States, there were surely other no less eloquent ways of so doing - for

instance, refusing to meet at all until a solution had been found. Just how much

such a solution was desired was evidenced by the questions addressed to the

Director-General at the previous meeting. However, neither the Constitution nor the

Committee's Rules of Procedure authorized the Director-General to make the choice

asked of him. While it was true that since the virtually unanimous adoption of

resolution WHA16.43, the Addis Ababa conference had taken place, it should also be

remembered that the United Nations was at that very time itself considering the

problem and was moreover the only body empowered to do so. However, whatever the

outcome of their deliberations, was it worth while to p a r a l y s e the work of the Regional

Committee? In the event that the Committee did in fact adjourn at that stage, then

direct control of the African Region would fall to the World Health Assembly.

A temporary solution to the problem as it affected the Committee should be

found while awaiting the General Assembly's vote on the subject. In that connexion

he wished to make two proposals :


page 2

(a) The Committee should be reformed into two sub-committees, A and B , (and

that proposal should be submitted to governments without delay).

(b) • Without waiting for replies from governments to (a) and in order that

the present meeting should not have been totally without value, the Committee

should undertake to deal at least with the essential points on its agenda : the

programme for 1964, the budget estimates for 1965 and the nomination of the

Regional Director.

Thereafter^ the Committee should await a decision from the World Health Assembly, or,

if necessary, a further meeting of the Committee could, under Rule 5 of the Rules of

Procedure, be convened.

Dr DOLO (Mali) stated that, so far as the expense involved was concerned, all

African s匕ates were prepared to accept that s a c r i f i c e I t had been decided at the

Addis Ababa conference that every chance should be seized to show that they were

determined to put an end to apartheid. Poor though they were, no expense was too

high to preserve their dignity, vîich they placed above all other considerations.

The African states could not accept the suggestion advanced by the French

representative that the Committee should be split into two sub-committees； such a

proposal in itself contained the germ of apartheid, to which they were utterly-

opposed . Their position was clear and they were ready to accept vîatever

consequences might ensue. .

Dr ALAKIJA (Nigeria) wished, on behalf of the English-speaking nations of free

Africa, to endorse what had been said by his colleague from Mali. The

responsibilities of the African representatives in the Canmittee were clear； they

had received instructions from their governments to leave the meeting if their wishes

were not met. In so doing, they would reinforce the position of their representatives

at the United Nations and show that they were determined to go to any lengths to

fight apartheid and to secure for the African the right to rule in his own country.

AFR/RC15/Min/3 Rev.l page 4

Dr KEITA (Guinea) expressed his whole-hearted agreement with the statements

made by the representatives of Mali and Nigeria. The suggestion that the

Organization should continue to administer the work in the African Region, even if

their representatives left the Committee at that stage, in no way altered the stand

which they had taken. The African nations were adamant in their decision and were

ready to suffer the consequences - consequences which they had analysed realistically

and without sentiment. They were prepared to make any sacrifices, even that of

their blood, rather than to yield on the issue.

Dr DU PLOOY (South Africa) said that he greatly regretted the attitude adopted

by his fellow Africans and the introduction of politics into a technical conference.

However, in the interests of securing a solution which would allow the Committee to

continue its work, he was prepared to submit to his Government for consideration the

proposal which had been put forward by the representative of France. He could not,

however, indicate whether it would be acceptable to his Government.

The CHAIRMAN said that, as the representatives of the African nations had left

the meeting at the beginning of the South African representative1

s statement, there

was no longer a quorum. He would therefore suspend the meeting for 15 minutes.

The meeting was suspended at 10,19 a.m, and resumed at 10.34 a.m.

As there was still no quorum, the CHAIRMAN adjourned the meeting sine die.

The meeting rose at 10.35 a.m.

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