Outstanding progress in reducing measles deaths was reported to Assembly delegates. Global measles mortality decreased by an estimated 30% between 1999 and 2002, with an even greater reduction (35%) in Africa. Continued implementation of a WHO/UNICEF comprehensive strategy can keep Member States on track to achieve the 2005 target of reducing measles deaths by half from 1999 levels.

Genomics and world health

There have been remarkable advances in the science of genomics, or the study of genes, their functions and related techniques. The World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to address concerns about the safety as well as ethical, legal and economic implications of this relatively new science.

The Assembly adopted a resolution on human organ and tissue transplantation to encourage the development of recommendations and guidelines to harmonize global practices and ensure the ethical practice of organ and tissue transplant. The delegates agreed to take measures to protect the poorest and vulnerable groups from "transplant tourism" and the sale or trafficking of tissues and organs. The resolution also addressed the practice of transplanting animal tissue or organs to humans and the need for clear national regulations on the practice and for surveillance of potential infections caused by these transplants.

Health conditions of, and assistance to, the Arab population in the occupied territories, including Palestine

The Assembly adopted a resolution addressing concerns about the deterioration of health conditions and the humanitarian crises resulting from military activities in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine. The resolution calls for Israel to immediately halt activities that affect the health conditions of civilians under occupation and also urges the WHO Director-General to dispatch a fact-finding team to the occupied territories and to continue providing technical assistance for improving health.

Mental Health - A call for action

In his address to the Assembly, Mr Jimmy Carter, former President of the United States of America, stressed that despite the availability of treatment, too many people simply have no access. The message was reinforced during a technical briefing on Mental Health and Substance Abuse by a number of countries, and by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who is a leader for mental health issues and founder and chairperson of the Carter Centrers Mental Health Task Force.

The Assembly adopted a resolution meant to address countries' concerns about the international migration of health personnel . This resolution urges Member States to develop strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of migration of health workers; to develop policies that could provide incentive for health workers to remain in their countries; and, among other issues, requests WHO to help Member States set up information systems to monitor the movement of health resources for health, and to include human resources for health development as a top-priority programme at WHO from 2006-2015.

A detailed progress report was presented on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control . So far, 114 countries and the European Community have signed, and 16 countries have ratified the Convention. The Assembly also received and debated reports from WHO on progress made on a number of health issues , including: research on the variola virus that causes smallpox; the recently established Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health, which will now present its report to the Executive Board in January 2006 ; the quality and safety of medicines and blood products, on the follow-up to the SARS outbreaks in 2003 and 2004; on measures to protect the safety of patients; and on the importance of strengthening health systems, including primary health care.

Next year's World Health Assembly is scheduled to convene from 16-25 May, 2005.