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TIF-WHO Official Report | TIF-WHO Joint Meeting
16–18 November 2007, Nicosia, Cyprus
TIF’s longstanding collaboration with WHO resulted in 2006 in the adoption of two resolutions by the General Assembly: Resolution WHA59.20 on sickle cell disease and Resolution EB118.R1 on thalassaemia.
The next aim for TIF and WHO is to implement these resolutions in different countries of the world through a joint Five-Year Plan of Action. For this purpose, a meeting of international experts on haemoglobinopathies was convened in Nicosia in November 2007.
The meeting explored the status of haemoglobin disorders at country and regional levels, with presentations from the participating experts as well as several national and international patient-orientated organisations and other related groups. Two working groups were then convened, one on thalassaemia and one on sickle cell disease.
Particular attention was given to setting local and regional priorities, updating existing guidelines and promoting community education. Other important issues that were touched upon included the problems faced by low-income countries in the control of hereditary diseases, and the creation of regional and national expert centres.
An official report will be published by WHO later this year.
- Implement and reinforce national programmes on haemoglobin disorders and evaluate their impact
- Intensify the training of all health professionals
- Promote community education and training of health workers
- Promote international cooperation
- Develop and strengthen medical genetic services
- Support basic and applied research
- Provide technical support and advice to national programmes
- Support the further transfer of affordable technologies
- Draft guidelines on prevention and management
- Foster the establishment of regional groups of experts
- Develop regional WHO-associated groups of experts to define local priorities, problems and approaches
- Update existing guidelines on the control of haemoglobin disorders
- Initiate pilot studies in some selected countries
The WHO resolutions encourage member states to: