60

Remarks espousing early regional organizations of the World

Organization at the First World Health Assembly.

Records No. 13, nn.69-344 passim, 1948

P e4

  

, oguix DR. SOPER (Observer, Pan, ‘
tery Hemispiierc of the cxis ates a
ea ean, Sanitary Bureau). cm 8
wal healt ovpanivant syeatt or
vbr x an a ede = 7 Qo pin. a

ae hee a ioe can at pube

"My following remarks refer to the Provisional
Agenda."

An examination of thé provisional agenda of the
Committee on Programme, the Committee on
Administration and Finance, and the Committee
on Headquarters and Regional Organization
shows that no provision has been made for regional
programms, for regional budgets or for regional
organizations prior to the end of 1949. Nor is
there any proposal regarding the functions of
regional organizations in the future. The failure
to make provision for regional operations comes
as a disappointment to the American republics,
which during the past two years have given so
much evidence of their interest in the regional
programme of the World Health Organization.

The twelfth Pan American Sanitary Conference,
meeting in Caracas in January 1947, broadened
the programme of the Pan American Sanitary
Bureau to correspond to that of the World Health
Organization, and created a Directing Council
with representatives of all Member States to
correspond to a regional committee of the World
Health Organization, as established by Chapter XI
of the Constitution.

The Conference also acted to facilitate the
participation of Canada and the non-self-governing
political units of the Western Hemisphere.
These measures were all taken for the purpose of
making the Pan American Sanitary Bureau ‘an
organization which could function as a regional
organization for the World Health Organization.

cep

WHO Official

 

nage 70

The American republics are greatly interested
in the World Health Organization, but are most.
anxious that its activities be decentralized in so
far as possible on a regional basis. One of the
provisions of the draft Agreement with the World
Health Organization, approved by the last
meeting of the Directing Council in Buenos Aires,
stipulates that ‘an adequate proportion of the
budget of the World Health Organization shall
be allocated for regional work’. But the Pan
American Sanitary Bureau is not interested in
regionalization for the Western Hemisphere
only ; it is obvious that it would be very difficult
to establish satisfactory working relationships
between a single regional organization in the
Western Hemisphere, and a centralized World
Health Organization geared to handling matters
for the rest of the world on the basis of direct
arrangements between the Secretariat and indivi-
dual governments.

The American international health workers
realize that success in the ultimate control of
communicable disease must be based on a
programme of searching-out and cleaning-up
endemic-disease centres, wherever they exist.
Even perfect regional health-work in the Western
Hemisphere will not be sufficient to give protection
from threats originating in other parts of the
world. The unexpected appearance of cholera in
Egypt in 1947 constituted a potential threat to
Brazil and other American countries. Concerted
action by health authorities of other regions must
be taken if the American continent is to avoid
exotic diseases and is to remain free of re-impor-
tations of Anopheles gambia and Aédes egypit,
and is to avoid the importation of tsetse fly and
other dangerous insects. Quite apart from the
direct and indirect interest of the American
republics in regionalization, attention should be
called to certain very definite advantages inherent
in a regional organization for an area.

 
 

page 117

Dr, Soren {observer, Pan Amenucon Sarutery
| Bureau) considered that the very lik itiowr
on the agenda should be the organiZatien and
functions of regional offices. It was the experience
of the Americas that one of the most important
functions of the regional offices was the improve-
ment of statistical information. Statistics would
be the basis for the distribution of WHO activitics
and the yardstick for measuring results. The
statistics which were at present being collected
in the Western Hemisphere and furnished to WHO
were very deficient. Ficld workers in statistics
were needed to work with individual governments
under a regional programme.

The basic function of WHO was to create an
administrative organization throughout the world,
through which international health, operations
could be carried out. He cited the case of
UNICEF : $4,000,000 was available for work on
BCG, of which $2,000,000 had been allocated to
Europe, leaving $2,000,000 for the rest of the -
world. The expenditure of that money should
be made through WHO and its regional offices,
but the administration of programmes from a
single centre dealing with individual governments
was extremely difficult. The items with regard
to sanitary legislation, epidemiological studics
and health statistics, for instance, were essentially
regional services. Tiere should be, at the centre,
a system for the co-ordination of the work done
in those fields in the regional offices. On the
other hand, international standards, therapeutic,
prophylactic and diagnostic agents and the
devclopment of an international pharmacopaia
were essentially central WHO matters.

With regard to publications, the Pan American
Sanitary Bureau already had an important service
of publications, particularly in the Spanish
language. Provision would have to be made for
reference and library services in the regional
offices. St >t i

‘ bones tld
 

page 70, continued

Experience in the Americas has shown that
general international conventions are not, in
and of themselves, sufficient to establish satis.
factory co-ordination of the activities of govern-
ments having common problems and common
boundaries. Only through a regional organization,
with a trusted international staff, is it possible
to develop a free interchange of information and
harmonious action in attacking common problems,
Regional collaboration is required for many
problems in which the individual State is unable
to act efficiently. As satisfactory eradication
techniques become ‘available for the solution of
an increasing number of problems, the importance
of regional action must increase rather than
diminish.

In addition to the technical and administrative
advantages of a regional organization, there is at
this time a very pertinent financial argument in
its favour. It is quite apparent from the budgcts
proposed that the funds of the World Health
Organization are inadequate to solve the impor-
tant health problems of the world. Eventually
a considerable part of the international health
programme must be financed through the contri-
butions of governments to budgets for the solution
of regional problems in which they have a direct
interest, as provided for in Article 50 of the
Constitution of the World Health Organization.
This development can come only after regional
organizations are operating and after a demons-
tration of their value. This is the logical way open
to increase the funds available for the programme
of the World Health Organization.

The PRESIDENT: We shall meet this afternoon
at 2.30 sharp and commence with the interpreta-
tion of the speech delivered by Dr. Soper. After-
wards we have four more speakers—the delegates
of Brazil, Hungary, the Philippines and Greece.

The meeting rose at 12.40 p.m.

ge 253
Dr. SopeR (observer, Pan American Sanitary

Bureau) thought that, as a question had been
raised as to why the Pan American Sanitary
Bureau still existed as an organization, apart from
WHO, he should put before the committee certain
facts which had not been properly appreciated
by many delegates living in parts of the world
other than the Americas.

The Pan American Sanitary Bureau existed on
the basis of a treaty signed in Havana in 1924,
which had been ratified by all 21 American Repub-
lics and was the only one of the Pan American
treaties so ratified. The treaty contained certain
articles which, referring to the organization,
functions and duties of the PASB, permitted that
organization to do in the Americas many things
which the Constitution of WHO did not permit
WHO to do throughout the world. It contained
a clause providing that the Convention should
become effective in each of the Signatory States
on the date of ratification thereof by the said
State, and should remain in force without limita-
tion of time, each one of the Signatory States
reserving the right to withdraw from the Conven-
tion by giving a year’s notice in advance to the
Government of the Republic of Cuba. None of
the 21 Republics had given such notice.

The functions which that treaty permitted in
the Western Hemisphere were contained in
Articles 54 to 59 of the Pan American Sanitary
Code, and Dr. Soper said he would like those
articles to be put on record.

Article 54 read :

The organization, functions and duties of the
Pan American Sanitary Bureau shall include
those heretofore determined for the International
Sanitary Bureau by the various international
sanitary and other conferences of American
COMMITTEE ON RELATIONS — 254

Republics, and such additional administrative
functions and duties as may be hereafter deter-
mined by Pan American sanitary conferences.

Dr. Soper pointed out that under this article
the Pan American Sanitary Conference, which
met every four years, had the full authority of
the 21 countries to give additional administrative
functions and duties to the Bureau. It was under
this article that the Twelfth Pan American
Sanitary Conference had met in Caracas in
January 1947, six months after the meeting in _
New York of the. International Health Con- |
ference, which had created the World Health
Organization. At the Caracas conference, action
had been taken to broaden the programme of
the PASB to coincide with that of WHO, taking
in matters of medical care and the medical and
sanitary aspects of social welfare. At that time
also, the organization of the Bureau had been
changed, to conform to the type of regional
organization laid out in, the WHO Constitution,
so that it would be possible to conform in every
way to the administrative organization of WHO.
At the same time, action had been taken to remove
any political bars which had been thought to
exist, and to make it possible for Canada and the
non-self-governing political units in the Western
Hemisphere to join the Pan American organiza-
tion.

Article 55 read :

The Pan American Sanitary Bureau shall be
the central co-ordinating sanitary agency of
the various member Republics of the Pan Ame-
rican Union and the general collection and
distribution centre of sanitary information to
and from said Republics. “For this purpose it
shall, from time to time, designate represen-
tatives to visit and confer with the sanitary
authorities of the various signatory Govern- .
ments on public-health matters, and such

 

representatives shall be given all available
sanitary information in the countries visited by
them in the course of their official visits and
conferences.

Dr. Soper said that was a broad power in the |
Western Hemisphere, which was not provided for |
in the Constitution of WHO.

Article 56:

In addition, the Pan American Sanitary |
Bureau shall perform the following specific
functions :

To supply to the sanitary authorities of the
signatory Governments through its publications,
or in other appropriate manner, all available
information relative to the actual status of the
communicable diseases of man, new invasions
of such diseases, the sanitary measures under-
taken, and the progress effected in the control

. or eradication of such diseases; new methods
for combating disease ; morbidity and mortality

statistics ; public-health organization and admi-.
nistration ; progress in any of the branches of
preventive medicine; and other pertinent in.
formation relative to sanitation and public
health in any of its phases, including a biblio.
graphy of books and periodicals on public
hygiene.

In order more efficiently to discharge its
functions it may undertake co-operative epi.
demiological and other studies; may employ
at headquarters and elsewhere experts for this
purpose ; may stimulate and facilitate scientific
researches and the practical application of the
results therefrom ; and may accept gifts, bene.
factions, and bequests, which shall be accounted
for in the manner now provided for the main.
tenance funds of the Bureau.

Under that article, the Bureau was actually
administering an anti-mosquito service in 1948
and 1949 in one of its member republics. PASB
was working directly in that country ;_ the service
was under the direct administrative control of a
representative of PASB, who was a health officer
of another of the Pan American members,
Articles 57 and 58: nage 254 cont.

The Pan American Sanitary Bureau shall
advise and consult with the sanitary authorities
of the various signatory Governments relative
to public health problems and the manner of
interpreting and applying the provisions of this
code.

Officials of the national health services may
be designated as representatives, ex officio, of
the Pan American Sanitary Bureau, in addition
to their regular duties, and when so designated
they may be empowered to act as sanitary
representatives of one or more of the signatory
Governments when properly designated and
accredited so to serve.

Dr. Soper emphasized the importance of
Article 58, under which it was possible for the
Director of PASB to designate a health officer
from any one of the 21 American Republics to
act as representative of the Bureau or of any one
or all of the 21 governments without that indi-
vidual having to resign or abandon his position
with his own government, and in that capacity
he was able to act for the Bureau anywhere in
the 2x American Republics.

Finally, Article 59 :

Upon request of the sanitary authorities of
any of the signatory Governments, the Pan
American Sanitary Bureau is authorized to
take the necessary preparatory steps to bring
about an exchange of professors, medical and
health officers, experts or advisers in public
health of any of the sanitary sciences, for the
purpose of mutual aid and advancement in the
protection of the public health of the signatory
Governments.
NINTH MEETING

Dr. Soper thought the committee would readily
understand the reluctance with which the Ame-
rican Republics would give up the possibility of
close collaboration on the technical level which
at present existed in the Western Hemisphere.
The question had been raised as to the continued
existence of PASB as an independent regional
organization. When he had attended the third
-cssion of the Interim Commission at Geneva in
April 1947, as the newly-elected Director of
PASB, he had found that WHO had no plans
for financing or organizing regional work, and he
was very much disturbed to find that in the
report of the Interim Commission, no provision
had been made for regionalization.

At the third session of the Interim Commission,
he had called attention to the fact that the
discussion between the American Republics and
WHO was not a political one, but essentially a
question of whether WHO would have a large
central organization or whether it would establish
regional health organizations, which would make
the influence of WHO felt by the people in the
various countries. The PASB was not a political
organization ; it was not subject in any way to
any international political organization. The
treaty was entirely independent of any other
treaty.

With reference to financing, he called attention
to the fact that the United States had contributed
only 1% of the budget for 1948. At the meeting
in Buenos Aires during the previous year, other
countries had made voluntary supplementary
contributions and had approved a budget of
$1,300,000 for 1948, knowing that only $145,000
of that amount would be paid’ by the United
States.

The PASB and the Pan American countries
were much more interested in the development
of a real world health organization than in main-
taining independence for themselves. They
realized that they could not protect the Western
Hemisphere against the introduction of disease,
unless regional organizations were functioning
elsewhere.

t

 

— 255 -

|

Dr. Soper said he expressed the sentiments of
the majority of the American Republics in stating
that they were very much interested in WHO,
but, until such time as WHO was in a position
to take over and finance the responsibilities of
the Bureau, he did not believe the Pan American
countries would be willing to abandon the organi-
zation which at present existed. He wished ‘to
call attention to the fact that, up to the present
time, the Health Assembly had not discussed
tegional programmes. The Bureau was continuing
its work and could only indicate the broad field
of activities in which it was working and ask WHO
what it wished to take over as regional work.

He concluded by saying that the Bureau was
not asking for any special favours; it was
asking for a regional organization and for’ ade-
quate funds to be assigned to regional pro-
grammes,

 

Kes nag

14 Jury 1948

The CHAIRMAN thanked Dr. Soper for his
description and offer of collaboration. The possi-
bility of two forms of relationship between WHO
and the Pan American Sanitary Bureau had been
raised: the inter-secretariat relationship men-
tioned by the Secretary, and the proposal of the
delegate of Brazil. He drew attention to the
annex in number seven of the Official Records,”
to which the delegate of Brazil had referred—a
note on integration presented at the fifth session
of the Interim Commission, which had been the
result of considerable work and long negotiations.
Action with regard to the first paragraph of that
note and to the first paragraph of the draft
resolution proposed by the delegation of Brazil
was being considered by the General Committee

that morning.

 

C, nuk been MA tr R
cofy Hee & guctler in Loved,
/ y Cor I C / (Lit LAN
Dr. Soper (observer, Pan American Sanitary |
Bureau) feared that the resolution suggested by
the working party had been agreed upon without -
full cognizance of the contents of a telegram which
had been read out, but not circulated, at the
meeting. That telegram contained the legal .

opinion of the United Nations that the inter- |

pretation of Article 9 of the proposed Agreement
between PASO and WHO should be settled by
the Health Assembly under Article 75 of its
Constitution. Article g was the only article
under discussion, and provided for the revision
or annulment of the Agreement (by either of the
parties) on a year’s notice.

He pointed out that the Agreement had been
approved by the Directing Council of PASO,
and approval by the Health Assembly would
make possible a final working agreement between
the two organizations without further delay.
Authorization had been given by the Directing
Council (this action had been taken before any
of the American States had become Members of
WHO) enabling him, as Director of PASO, to
make the final arrangements with WHO on the
basis of that Agreement. It was important that
careful consideration should be given to the
question before any changes were made, which
might delay such agreement and might make it
necessary to establish a temporary working
agreement between the two organizations. He
felt strongly that action should not be taken
merely on the basis of the rapid consideration of

 

the point by the working party.

:
The Ta new ee AL eee ALLA ate Leet
page 259 __
* * *

Seventh Report of the Committee on Relations
(final text, p. 327) :

The CHAIRMAN called on the Rapporteur to
present the draft seventh report of the Committee
on Relations.

Dr. pe iaét (Belgium) read the draft report,
“section by section, with various drafting amend-

ments. ye ke a 7

 

page 259, continued
5. Pan American Sanitary Organization
Dr. MAcCoRMACK (Ireland) said that, as he

interpreted the proposed resolution, it seemed
there could be no integration of the Pan American

- Sanitary Bureau with WHO until after the next

session of the Health Assembly. With a view
to expediting matters, he submitted an amend-

ment, as folldws :

The Health Assembly

piIrEcTS the Executive Board to continue
negotiations with the competent authorities of
the Pan American Sanitary Bureau, with full
authority to conclude these negotiations if
possible to the satisfaction of both parties.

Dr. MANI (India) submitted a further amend-
ment, as follows:

The Health Assembly

pirECcTsS the Executive Board to continue
negotiations with the competent authorities of
the Pan American Sanitary Organization with

a view to the integration as soon as possible of
PASO with WHO. and if possible to conclude
an agreement, in accordance with Article 54
of the Constitution, etc. .

He said the question of agreement for both
sides was already laid down in the Constitution ;
it was not necessary to repeat it. In the Iadian
delegation’s opinion, the retention of the refer-
ence to Article 54 was fundamental.

Dr. SopER (observer, Pan American Sanitary
Bureau) said he was glad the question had been
raised, because he wished to emphasize again
the fact that the Agreement which had come under
discussion,7® had been approved by the Directing
Council of the Pan American Sa:.itary Bureau.
But it had made a proviso, that the Agreement
should enter into force upon its approval by the
Health Assembly. He thought it was essential
to have some action by the Health Assembly con-
firming the final Agreement. The Directing Coun-
cil was meeting in October, and, if the entire
document were accepted as it stood, the final
Agreement could be very rapidly concluded.
Since there had been a question regarding Ar-
ticle 9, there should be a definite authorization
on that particular item, so that it could be laid
before the Directing Council. If a suitable word-
ing. agreeable to both parties was found, it
would be possible to complete the arrangements
between WHO And the Pan American Sanitary
Bureau, so that the Bureau could begin to func-
tion as a full regional organization in 1949,
without going through the preliminary stage of
a working arrangement before the agreement
had been reached.

- ec «e ce lO
nage 271
The CuarrMan said that could be done if the
committee wished, but he would like to have
other opinions.

Dr. SopER, (observer, Pan American Sanitary
Bureau), said he had been somewhat surprised
at the discussion, because he thought the question
was basically an administrative rather than a
financial one. He outlined the development of
the Pan American Sanitary Bureau from its
beginning in 1902, with a budget of $5,000 a
year, to the present year, for which there was an
approved budget of $1,300,000.

If WHO did not have regions, it would have to
set up in Geneva special organizations for each
type of work and attempt to deal with 60 dif-
ferent countries all over the world.

 

page 272

Dr. STAMPAR, President of the Assembly,
observed that he had been impressed by many of
the speeches he had heard, and thanked Dr. Soper
for his explanation of the activities of the Pan
American Sanitary Bureau.

He said the Constitution of WHO definitely
prescribed the establishment of regional organi-
zations. At the International Health Conference
in New York, it had been decided that the Orga-
nization should not be overcentralized. He was
quite sure that the countries that had proposed the
establishment of regional bureaux did not expect
large amounts of money from WHO; they asked
for moral and financial help at the beginning, and
he thought the committee could not refuse them.
He urged the committee to accept the proposals
submitted with regard to the establishment of
regional offices ; that was the philosophy of the
Organization.

The CHAIRMAN asked whether the committee
accepted the proposal made by the President of
the Assembly and would submit four areas to the
Assembly, asking for immediate action on two
areas.

Dr. Suu (China) thought it important to consi-
der three points concerning regionalization. First,
was WHO ready to discuss regionalization ?

!
|
|

 

 

ee,

page 272, continued

This was a question of principle. During the lag
two years, the Interim Commission had only
continued the work of previous: organizations and
had not put up any programme at all. It had noe
prepared a programme. The problem should ty
considered from a global point of view: public
health was a world problem. He thought WHO
was not yet ready to discuss regionalization,

The second point was: were the countries
concerned ready to discuss a regionalization pro
gramme? Dr. Soper had stated that certain
groups were ready. Dr. Shu would ask fo
a definition of readiness and would put a big
question mark to that point.

The third point was: had the Organization
enough money to support any regional pro-
gramme ? As Dr. Soper had pointed out, regionah.
zation should be all or nothing.

He asked all delegates to consider the question
seriously, not in the interest of a. particular
country or group of countries, but in the interest
of WHO. From an administrative standpoint,
he thought it was not at present advisable to talk
about two regions and omit the rest. He suggested
that a committee should be set up to study the
regional problem and present a report to the
next Assembly for consideration.

The meeting rose at 6 p.m.

4. Closing of Session

Dr. SoPER (observer, Pan American Sanitary
Bureau) said he wished to correct the impression
that might be conveyed by a remark of the dele-
gate of China, appearirg in the minutes of the
fourth meeting: ‘As Dr. Soper had pointed »
out, regionalization should be all or nothing ”.

He stated that, although it would require a donhle
system of administration to carry on activitin
in one part of the world through regional Organ)
zation and in other parts through direct Action
by the central Secretariat and individual goverr.
ments, he had not at any time considered the
possibility of getting along without some regiona!

organizations. .
he oO

eh asa
SECOND

The Committee on Headquarters and Regional:

Organization met on 30 June 1948, at Io a.m.
and 2.30 p.m. ; oni July, at 2.30 p.m. ; on § July,
at 2.30 p.m.; and on 7 July, at Io a.m.

The recommendations of the committee on the
site of headquarters for the World Health Organi-
zation have already been submitted to the
Assembly.

As regards regional organization, the committee,
as a first step, established five working parties
to consider (1) the delimitation of geographical
areas, and (2) the desirability of establishing
regional organizations in these areas.

The proposals of these working parties which
were fully discussed and approved by the com-
mittee, are described below :

1. Delimitation of geographical areas

1. Eastern Mediterranean Area, comprising the
following countries: Egypt, Saudi Arabia,
Jraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Transjor-
dan, Yemen, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Greece,

3 Adopted by the Health Assembly at its eleventh
mecting, subject to a reservation by the delegate
of Greece, see p. 80

REPORT * - nage 330

Ethiopia, Eritrea, Tripolitania, Dodecanese
Aslands, British Somaliland, French Somali-
.land, Aden, Cyprus.

2. Western Pacific Area, comprising the follow.
ing countries: Australia, China, Indo-
china, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philip-
pines, New Zealand, and provisionally the
Malay Peninsula.

3. South-East Asia Area, comprising the follow-
ing countries: Burma, Siam, Ceylon, Af
ghanistan, India ; the inclusion of the Malay
Peninsula to await the definite decision of
this area as to which regional organization
it desires to join.

4. European Area, comprising the whole of
Europe.

5. African Area, comprising the following
countries and territories: A primary region
is suggested for all Africa south of the 20
degree N. parallel of latitude to the western
border of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, to its
junction with the northern border of Belgian
Congo, thence eastwards along the northern
borders of Belgian Congo, thence eastwards

 

along the northern borders of Uganda and
COMMITTEE ON HEADQUARTERS AND

Kenya; and thence southwards along the
eastern border of Kenya to the Indian
Ocean.

6. Amertean Area. comprising the Americas.

2. Desirability of establishing regional organi-
zations

The committee discussed at considerable length
the necessity for establishing regional organi-
zations in some or all of these areas during the
year 1949. As a result of this discussion, the
committee agreed that : .

1. As soon as the consent of a majority of
Members of a regional area is obtained, a regional
organization should be established in that area;
where the consent of a majority of the Members
has not yet been obtained, a regional organiza-
tion in the respective area should be established
as soon as the necessary consent becomes
available.

2. As regards the Eastern Mediterranean Area,
the committee recommends that the regional
organization which already exists in that area,
viz. the Alexandria Regional Bureau, be inte-
grated with the World Health Organization as
soon as possible, through common action, in accor-
dance with Article 54 of the Constitution.

3. As regards Europe, the committee recom-
mends that a temporary special administrative
office be established as soon as possible for the
primary purpose of dealing with the health
rehabilitation of war-devastated countries in that
area.

The committee further brings to the attention
of the Assembly the fact that negotiations have

SUMMARY OF RESOLUTIONS

= 331 —

 

— 344 —

REGIONAL ORGANIZATION
not yet been completed for the integration of the
Pan American Sanitary Organization with the
World Health Organization. The committee
recommends that these negotiations be brought
to a successful close as soon as possible.

Accordingly, the foliowing resolutions
placed before the Assembly for approval :

are

1. In accordance with Article 44 of the WHO
Constitution, the Health Assembly

RESOLVES to define the geographical areas as
indicated in the second report of the Committee
on Headquarters and Regional Organization.

2. The Health Assembly

RESOLVES that the Executive Board be
instructed (1) to establish regional organizations
in the areas indicated in the second report of
the Committee on Headquarters and Regional
Organization as soon as the consent of a majority
of Members situated within such area is obtained ;
where the consent of a majority of the Members
has not yet been obtained, a regional organiza-
tion in the respective area should be established
as soon as the necessary consent becomes avai-
lable ; (2) as regards the Eastern Mediterranean
Area, to integrate the regional organization
which already exists in that area, viz. the Alexan-
dria Regional Bureau, with the World Health
Organization’ as soon as possible, through
common action, in accordance with Article 54 of
the WHO Constitution ; (3) as regards Europe,
to establish a temporary special administrative
office as soon as possible for the primary purpose
of dealing with the health rehabilitation of war-
devastated countries in that area.

AND DECISIONS

 

een

we K KK

Committee on Headquarters and Regional Organization

The Assembly

ee €

APPROVED the second report of the Committee on Headquarters and Regional
Organization (see ~. 330), with a reservation made by the delegation of Greece.

RESOLVED on the delineation of the following as geographical areas: (1) Eastern
Mediterranean Area, (2) Western Pacific Area, (3) South-East Asia Area, (4) European
Area, (5) African Area, (6) American Area.

RESOLVED that the Executive Board should be instructed (1) to establish regional
organizations in accordance with the delineation of geographical areas decided upon
and as soon as the consent of a majority of Members situated in such areas had been
obtained ; (2) as regards the Eastern Mediterranean Area, to integrate the Alexandria
Regional Bureau with WHO as soon as possible ; and (3) as regards Europe, to establish,
as soon as possible, a temporary special administrative office to deal with the health
rehabilitation of war-devastated countries in that area.

KW S

(Eleventh plenary meeting, p. 80)