News from PAHO/WHO

PAHO and Médecins sans Frontières Sign Agreement

Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), an international humanitarian organization based in France, provides health assistance to populations affected by wars, and manmade or natural disasters. It relies on volunteer health professionals, and has delegate offices in 12 countries, one of these being Costa Rica.

In October, MSF signed an agreement to cooperate with PAHO/WHO's Emergency Preparedness Program in disasterrelated activities and projects in the health sector in the Region. MSF will also collaborate closely with PAHO in the development of the SUMA Project and in activating the SUMA system at disaster sites. For more information on MSF activities in this Region, contact Dr. Michel Courvallet, MSF Representative, c/o OPS/OMS, Apartado 3745, San Jose 1000, Costa Rica.

World Health Assembly Adopts Resolution

The Fortysixth World Health Assembly adopted a Resolution (WHA46.6) on emergency and humanitarian relief operations in May 1993. Among other items, the resolution requests the DirectorGeneral to continue to support Member States in strengthening their capacity to prepare for emergencies and to provide humanitarian assistance in the health sector. It also calls on the international community to respond to appeals made by the UN system in providing technical and material support of health services and for their rehabilitation in the aftermath of emergencies.