Luanda - The WHO regional director for Africa, Luis Gomes Sambo, has suggested a package of intervention priorities the member countries should develop with view to maximize progress in the area of health by 2013, as part of the eleven strategic goals set by the organization.

The proposal is contained in a 56-page report, presented Monday to the WHO/Africa Regional Committee and submitted to analysis by the ministers and heads of the African delegations meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.

The report carefully analyzed the degree of implementation of priority programmes of health in the region, as the fight against malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, maternal and child health, non-transmissible chronicle diseases, provision of better health services, environmental health, health promotion and the presence of WHO in the member countries.

Meanwhile, the WHO/Africa official called for the need to strengthening the performance of these programs, suggesting a package of measures that could ensure not only proper implementation of the adopted strategies, but also a greater force in mobilisation of the necessary resources to the countries.

Among the strategic actions to be developed in the future, stress goes to better quality of data on the health, intensifying of efforts focussed on mobilisation of resources, training in the area of the response integrated to the disease, improved mechanisms of coordination, surveillance of disease and the health and operational research.

The WHO, stressed Luis Sambo, will intensify its defence, mobilisation of the resources and partnerships to accelerate the progresses in these areas, including the scientific research and the correct use of the results for a better provision of services.

However, the report provides the delegates with a global analysis of the work undertaken by WHO in 2008, highlighting issues such as the critical health condition of women and children, the poor health systems in the continent and the significant progress made in the member States related to the 13 strategic goals defined by WHO.

Another topic that deserved special attention was the scarcity of resources for the implementation of the health programmes and the execution of the WHO budget for 2008-2009 period, estimated at USD1.1 billion.

The WHO Regional director also mentioned the different partnerships created in Africa for a better coordination of efforts, including group of civil society, for fighting against malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.

Set to end on September 4, the 59th WHO Regional Committee session agenda includes issues such as the degree of implementation of the Millennium Development Goals related to the health resistance to AIDS related drug.

The Regional Committee comprises health ministers from the 46 countries making up the WHO African region.