CM/Res.1549 (LX)
RESOLUTION ON HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT POLICIES
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity meeting in its Sixtieth Ordinary Session in Tunis, Tunisia, from 6 to 11 June, 1994,
Recalling Declaration AHG/Dec1.1 (XXIII) on Health as a Foundation for development,
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Further recalling Declaration AHG/Dec1.3 (XXVII) on the current Health Crisis
in Africa,
Recalling the contribution of the World Health Organization which stipulates that health constitutes a basic right of every human being,
Asserting the imperative need to attain the objective of Health For All by the year 2000 launched by the Thirtieth World Health Assembly in 1977,
Taking into consideration the Alma Ata Declaration on the Promotion of Primary Health Care,
Bearing in mind the report of the meeting of the special multi-disciplinary group of WHO on health and development policies held in New York, from 7 to 9 December, 1993,
Considering the Lagos Plan of Action for the economic development of Africa which, in Chapter V proposes the strengthening of national organs responsible for health and hygiene policies,
Also bearing in mind the Accra Initiative of December 1991 which underscored the close relation between economic development and health especially that of the most vulnerable groups,
Concerned about the heavy interests at stake in the world Social Development Summit scheduled to be held in Copenhagen in March 1995 and the need for Member states to bring a positive contribution:
CALLS UPON Member States to consider health as an indicator and integral part of their economic development;
RECOMMENDS each Member State to set out policies, strategies and programmes for the promotion and improvement of the health of the populations in disadvantaged urban and rural areas;
FURTHER RECOMMENDS to Member States to improve the efficacy and modernize traditional non-western medicine as a means of supplementing the health Delivery Programmes to the rural areas;
EXHORTS Member States to pay particular attention to and consider as a matter of priority the health of the most vulnerable group especially children, women and the elderly;
ENCOURAGES Member States to exchange their experiences in the areas of health policies, training and information;
ALSO CALLS UPON Member States to coordinate their positions and strategies to ensure an exemplary participation of Africa in the World Social Development Summit to be held in Copenhagen in March 1995;
REQUESTS the OAU Secretary-General to ensure if necessary that coordination as well as the follow-up on that resolution and report thereon to the 62nd session of the Council.