EB71.R10
Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases
The Executive Board,
Having examined the report of its Programme Committee, together with the report of the Joint Coordinating Board's External Review Committee on the first five years of operations of the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases;
Noting that the problems facing national programmes for the control of the six diseases included in the Special Programme - malaria, schistosomiasis, filariasis, trypanosomiasis (both African and American), leishmaniasis, and leprosy - are even more serious than they were when the Special Programme began its operations;
Noting further that the two objectives of the Special Programme - research and development towards new and improved tools to control six major tropical diseases, and the strengthening of national institutions, including training, to increase the research capabilities in the tropical countries affected by these diseases - are essential to achieve disease control and are complementary within the scope and balance of the Programme;
- CONSIDERS that the attainment of the goals of the Special Programme should be a major priority in the organization's thrust towards health for all;
- WELCOMES the significant scientific and technical progress already achieved;
- ENDORSES the views of its Programme Committee that:
- the Programme's structure of a network of national institutions and its organization and management mechanisms are sound;
- the evaluation mechanisms built into the Programme are effective and may serve as an example for other programmes;
- the Programme's secretariat should continue to be located at the Organization's headquarters in Geneva;
- EXPRESSES its appreciation of the generous financial contributions made to the Programme so far or pledged for the future;
- REQUESTS the Director-General to study, in concert with the executive heads of the other two co-sponsoring organizations, the means of increasing the level of financial contributions to the Special Programme from the present contributors and of attracting new contributors to the Programme.