The Sixty-fourth World Health Assembly (16–24 May 2011) concluded in Geneva. Member States adopted 28 resolutions and three decisions during the Assembly, summarized here: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2011/world_health_assembly_20110524/en/index.html

We excerpt selection sections from the summary below [full text]:

Improving global preparedness for future pandemics
In another agenda item aimed to improve global preparedness for future pandemics, delegates approved a framework for pandemic influenza preparedness, the culmination of four years of negotiation between WHO’s Member States. The framework will improve influenza virus sharing and access to vaccines and other benefits. Member States agreed the framework lays the groundwork for better preparedness and better access to tools and knowledge. The next phase is to ensure the implementation of the agreement.

Resolutions and reports support health-related MDGs
Health-related MDGs received support with resolutions and reports on immunization strategy, infant and young child nutrition, child injury prevention, youth health risks, malaria, and the presentation of the final report of the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health.

The progress report on the global immunization vision and strategy was widely supported. Delegates highlighted their country’s achievements in increasing immunization coverage, reducing vaccine-preventable deaths and implementing advocacy events such as the regional immunization weeks. But they also recognized that several challenges remain, including mobilizing more resources to strengthen national immunization programmes; ensuring a balanced approach in strengthening immunization systems; introducing new vaccines; preventing a resurgence of measles through high vaccination coverage; and facilitating vaccine technology transfer to developing countries. The work outlined in the strategy will contribute to overcoming these challenges.
Member States commend WHO’s leadership and collaboration with UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other partners on the Decade of Vaccines — a vision for using the next 10 years to achieve immunization goals and reach important milestones in vaccine research, development, financing and public support…

…The Health Assembly adopted a resolution on malaria calling on Member States to keep malaria high on the political and development agendas in order to sustain the tremendous gains made during the past decade, and calling on international partners to ensure adequate and predictable funding so that global malaria targets for 2015 can be met. The resolution highlighted the need for continued universal coverage with malaria vector control for at-risk persons, expanded access to diagnostic testing for suspected malaria and treatment for confirmed cases, and strengthened malaria surveillance systems. The need to implement the WHO Global Plan for Artemisinin Resistance Containment, and to develop a global plan for insecticide resistance management in malaria vectors, were also emphasized.

Reaffirmed that the remaining stock of smallpox virus should be destroyed
The Health Assembly strongly reaffirmed the decision of previous Assemblies that the remaining stock of smallpox (variola) virus should be destroyed when crucial research based on the virus has been completed. The state of variola virus research will be reviewed at the 67th World Health Assembly in 2014 and in light of that, determining a date for destruction of the remaining virus stocks will be discussed.

Annual report on the eradication guinea-worm disease
The delegates adopted a resolution paving the way for an annual report on the eradication of dracunculiasis (more commonly known as guinea-worm disease) to be presented every year beginning with the next Health Assembly. Dracunculiasis is the second disease which is approaching eradication (the first being smallpox) and it occurs only after people drink contaminated water. Previously it was responsible for millions of infections across Africa and Asia. The disease mainly occurs in remote poverty-stricken areas, with limited or no access to safe drinking water.

Strong commitment to polio eradication
The global health community sent a sign of strong commitment to polio eradication with discussion focusing on the ‘significant advances’ since the launch of a new strategic plan and new, bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine in 2010. In India and Nigeria — the source of all importations of wild poliovirus into previously polio-free countries in recent years — polio cases declined by 95% between 2009 and 2010; during the same period polio cases due to the type 3 virus declined by 92% globally. Delegates called for strong national and subnational leadership by political authorities for the implementation of polio eradication strategies and highlighted the need for countries to significantly strengthen routine immunization. Delegates expressed particular concern over the funding gap of US$ 665 million to fully carry out polio eradication activities in 2011 and 2012. Delegates requested WHO to provide additional technical support to countries with ongoing, re-established polio transmission (Angola, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo), to continue to pursue research for post-eradication risk management and to help countries maintain high-quality surveillance and population immunity until eradication is complete globally.

WHO Media Center documentation on the overall WHA available here: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/2011/wha64/en/index.html