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World Health Assembly and Executive Board

This section includes excerpts of selected documents from the World Health Assembly and Executive Board. Smallpox control was a recurring issue since WHO's inception. (Complete and additional documents are available on WHO's IRIS system.)

The World Health Assembly is WHO's main governing body. An annual May meeting, attended by delegations from all Member States, decides the policies of the Organization. It appoints the Director-General, supervises WHO's financial policies, and reviews and approves the proposed budget. It instructs the Executive Board on matters requiring further attention.

The Executive Board is a smaller elected body of members with technical qualifications in the health field. Members serve 3-year terms. The Executive Board meets in January to set the agenda for the World Health Assembly's May meeting and to adopt draft resolutions for the Assembly's consideration.

Documents below are grouped by each World Health Assembly and its preceding Executive Board.
Even-numbered Official Records of the WHO contain lists of the delegates to the Assembly.

1949: Executive Board, 3rd Session, 21 Feb - 9 Mar

Operating programme: Epidemiological studies: Pestilential diseases: Smallpox. Off rec WHO 18: 134-5.

1950: 3rd World Health Assembly, 8-27 May

Minutes of committee meetings: Communicable diseases: Study and stimulation of campaigns: Smallpox. Off Rec WHO 28: 243, 247-8.
Resolution WHA3.18: Smallpox. [Requests Centre for testing and standardization of vaccine; greater weight to smallpox in 1952 regular programme].

1951: 4th World Health Assembly, 7-25 May

Report of the Director-General: Smallpox, smallpox vaccine. Off Rec WHO 30: 14, 50

1953: Executive Board, 11th Session, 12 Jan - 4 Feb

Further action on general world health problems. EB11/63.
Resolution EB11.R58: World-wide campaign against smallpox. [Requests study to be presented at 6th WHA]

1953: 6th World Health Assembly, 5-22 May

Report of the Director-General. Off Rec WHO 45: 4, 17
Study on a world-wide programme against smallpox. A6/18
Minutes of committee meetings: Proposals for world-wide campaigns: Smallpox. Off rec WHO 48: 211-5, 220-1.
Resolution WHA6.18: Study on campaign against smallpox. [Requests the Executive Board to proceed with a study of means of implementation.]

1953: Executive Board, 12th Session, 28-30 May

Resolution EB12.R13: Study on campaign against smallpox. [Requests the Director-General to consult with Member States, regional committees and advisory panels concerning WHA6.18.]

1954: Executive Board, 13th Session, 12 Jan - 2 Feb

Campaign against smallpox. EB13/50. [Presented to 7th WHA as annex to Campaign against smallpox, A7/P&B7/5]
Resolution EB13.R3: Campaign against smallpox. [Requests the Director-General to 1) urge campaigns be integral parts of public health programmes; 2) include field and laboratory studies in WHO's future plans]

1954: 7th World Health Assembly, 4-21 May

Report of the Director-General. Off Rec WHO 51: 15
Campaign against smallpox. A7/P&B/5.
Minutes of committee meetings: Campaign against smallpox. Off rec WHO 55: 208-12, 218.
Resolution WHA7.5: Campaigns against smallpox. [Requests continued study of smallpox control; integration into public health programs; financial assistance as budget permits.]

1955: 8th World Health Assembly, 10-27 May

Campaign against smallpox. A8/P&B/7.
Resolution WHA8.38: Campaigns against smallpox. [Urges that campaigns, where necessary, be integral parts of public-health programmes.]

1957 10th World Health Assembly, 7-24 May

Report of the Director-General: Communicable diseases, Vaccine studies. Off rec WHO 75: VII-VIII, 3, 14.
Progress and evaluation of production of typhoid, smallpox, and triple diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine. A10/P&B/5.
[Annex: A stable dried smallpox vaccine. Summary of the method of preparation based on methods described by Collier. (WHO/Smallpox/7)]
Resolution WHA10.37: Progress in the evaluation and production of typhoid, smallpox and triple diphtheria- pertussis-tetanus vaccines. [Recommends use of Collier methodology for stable dried vaccine production in countries where appropriate.]

1958: 11th World Health Assembly, 28 May - 13 Jun

Report by the Director-General: Smallpox. A11/P&B/17.
Eradication of smallpox: Report submitted by the government of the USSR. A11/P&B/18.
Minutes of committee meetings: Eradication of smallpox (Item proposed by the USSR). Off rec WHO 87: 263-72.
Resolution WHA11.54: Smallpox eradication. [Requests detailed study of financial, administrative and technical implications of a smallpox eradication programme.]

1958: Executive Board, 22nd Session, 16-17 Jun

Minutes of committee meetings: Gifts of smallpox vaccines. EB22/Min/1: 27-30.
Resolution EB22.R12: Gifts of smallpox vaccine. [Director-General will establish special account to be credited with value of gifts of vaccine; requests Director-General to ensure vaccine donations are of acceptable quality.]

1959: Executive Board, 23rd Session, 20 Jan - 3 Feb

Smallpox eradication. EB23/43.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication. EB23/Min/17: 472-87.
Resolution EB23.R71: Smallpox eradication. [Recommends, where necessary, institution of eradication programmes and assurance of potent stable vaccine; requests the Director-General to collect information on financial requirements of eradication.]

1959: 12th World Health Assembly, 12-29 May

Report by the Director-General: Smallpox eradication. A12/P&B/9.
Soviet Union: Proffer of assistance in smallpox and cholera control. A12/P&B/9 Add. 1.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication programme. Off rec WHO 95: 324-32.
Resolution WHA12.54: Smallpox eradication. [Recommends countries initiate eradication programs with WHO support.]

1960: 13th World Health Assembly, 3-20 May

Report by the Director-General: Smallpox eradication. A13/P&B/14.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication programme. Off rec WHO 103: 241-5.
Resolution WHA13.53: Smallpox eradication. [Urges countries without programmes to adopt them; Requests Director-General to continue to provide assistance.]

1961: 14th World Health Assembly, 7-24 Feb

Report by the Director-General:. Smallpox eradication programme. A14/P&B/6.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication programme. Off rec WHO 111: 280-7.
Resolution WHA14.40: Smallpox eradication programme.

1962: 15th World Health Assembly, 8-25 May

Report by the Director-General: Smallpox eradication. A15/P&B/18.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication programme. Off rec WHO 119: 299-308.
Resolution WHA15.53: Smallpox eradication programme.

1963: Executive Board, 31st Session, 15-28 Jan

Smallpox eradication. EB31/46
Minutes of Committee meeting: Smallpox eradication (progress report). EB31/Min/15 Rev. 1: 457-62.
Resolution EB31.R33: Smallpox eradication.

1963: 16th World Health Assembly, 7-23 May

Report by the Director-General: Smallpox eradication programme (A16/P&B9). Off Rec WHO 127: 195-210.
Minutes of Committee meeting: Smallpox eradication programme. Off Rec WHO 128: 304-14.
Resolution WHA16.37: Smallpox eradication programme.

1964: 17th World Health Assembly, 3-20 Mar

Report by the Director-General: Smallpox Eradication Programme (A17/P&B11). Off Rec WHO 135: 120-32.
Minutes of Committee meetings: Smallpox eradication programme. Off Rec WHO 136: 346-59, 373-4.
[Note by DA Henderson: The beginning of the intensified phase.]
Resolution WHA17.43: Smallpox eradication programme.

1965: 18th World Health Assembly, 4-21 May

Report by the Director-General: Smallpox eradication programme (A18/P&B/10). Off rec WHO 143: 161-175.
Report by the Director-General (Annexes): Assessments of eradication efforts in 4 endemic countries. A18/P&B/10 annexes A-D.
Minutes of Committee meeting: Smallpox eradication programme. Off Rec WHO 144: 309-20.
Resolution WHA18.38: Smallpox eradication programme. [Declares the world-wide eradication of smallpox to be one of the major objectives of WHO.]

1966: Executive Board, 37th Session, 18-28 Jan

Proposed regular and programme budget estimates for the financial year 1 January - 31 December 1967 Off rec WHO 146: XIV, XIX, 31, 70, 521-7.
[Includes funding for smallpox eradication under a Voluntary Fund]
Report by the Director-General: Smallpox eradication. EB37/23
- Report by the Director-General: Smallpox eradication. Proposed method of financing. EB37/23 Add.1.
- Report by the Director-General: Smallpox eradication. Proposed method of financing (assessment tables) EB37/23 Add.2.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication; Special Account for Smallpox Eradication. EB37/Min/9 Rev.1: 268-98.
Resolution EB37.R16: Smallpox eradication. [Recommends to the WHA that WHO's participation in smallpox eradication should be financed from its regular budget]

1966: 19th World Health Assembly, 3-20 May

Smallpox eradication programme. Annex 15. Report by the Director-General. Off rec WHO 151: 106-21.
Minutes of Committee meetings Smallpox Eradication Programme. Off Rec WHO 152: 258-64, 288-96.
Resolution WHA19.16: Smallpox eradication programme. [Decides that WHO's participation in smallpox eradication should be financed from its regular budget and may include supplies, equipment, and services to individual countries]

1967: Executive Board, 39th Session, 17-27 Jan

Smallpox eradication programme. EB39/12.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication programme. EB39/Min/4 Rev.1:110-39; EB39/10 Rev.1: 325.
Resolution EB39.R20: Smallpox eradication programme.

1967: 20th World Health Assembly, 8-26 May

Development of the smallpox eradication programme. A20/P&B/7.
Minutes of Committee meetings: Development of the smallpox eradication programme. Off rec WHO 161: 240-7, 250-62.
WHA Resolution 20.15: Smallpox eradication programme.

1968: Executive Board, 41st Session, 23 Jan - 1 Feb

Smallpox eradication programme . EB41/12.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication programme. EB41/Min/9 Rev.1: 140-151; EB41/Min/11 Rev.1: 186-8
Resolution EB41.R18: Smallpox eradication programme.

1968: 21st World Health Assembly, 6-24 May

Smallpox eradication programme. A21/P&B/6.
Minutes of committee meeting: Smallpox eradication programme. Off Rec WHO 169: 277-9, 355-62.
Background document for reference use at the Technical Discussions on National and Global Surveillance of Communicable Diseases. A21/Technical Discussions/1 .
[Epidemiological Surveillance unit, Communicable Diseases Division, with assistance from AD Langmuir, consultant; 5 Apr 1968]
National and global surveillance of communicable diseases. Address by the General Chairman at the Opening of the Technical Discussions. A21/Technical Discussions/4.
[AO Lucas]
Report of the Technical Discussions on National and Global Surveillance of Communicable Diseases. A21/Technical Discussions/5.
Resolution WHA21.21: Smallpox eradication programme.

1969: Executive Board, 43rd Session, 18-28 Feb

Smallpox eradication programme. EB43/28. [Presented at 22nd WHA as Report by the Director-General, A22/P&B/2].
Minutes of committee meeting: Smallpox eradication programme. EB43/SR/10: 167-172; EB43/SR/11: 179-183; EB43/SR/12: 196-198.
Resolution EB43.R21: Smallpox eradication.

1969: 22nd World Health Assembly, 8-25 July (Boston)

Minutes of committee meetings. Off rec WHO 177: 319-326, 377-378, 394.
Resolution WHA22-34: Smallpox eradication programme.

1970: Executive Board, 45th Session, 20-29 Jan

Report of the Director-General: Smallpox eradication programme. EB45/16. [Presented at 23rd WHA as Report by the Director-General, A23/P&B/2].
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication programme. EB45/SR/8: 129-136.
Resolution EB45.R20: Smallpox eradication programme.

1970: 23rd World Health Assembly, 5-22 May

Minutes of committee meetings: Communicable diseases. Off rec WHO 185: 386-391.
Resolution WHA23.46: Smallpox eradication programme.

1971: Executive Board, 47th session, 19-29 Jan

Report of the Director-General: Smallpox eradication programme. Off rec WHO 190: 163.

1971: 24th World Health Assembly, 4-20 May

Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication. Off rec WHO 194: 346-347, 400-409.
Resolution WHA24.45: Smallpox eradication programme.

1972: Executive Board, 49th Session, 18-27 Jan

Smallpox eradication programme. EB49/WP/13.
Report on the smallpox eradication programme.. Off rec WHO 199: 25-6.

1972: 25th World Health Assembly, 9-26 May

Report of the Director-General: Smallpox eradication. A25/9.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication. Off rec WHO 202: 325-7, 346-67.
Resolution WHA 25.45: Smallpox eradication. [includes explicit requests/recommendations for assessment teams, training materials, and intensified research].
[Letter from SEP Chief to staff noting length and interest of debate and enclosing minutes of meetings.]

1973: Executive Board, 51st Session, 16-25 Jan

Smallpox eradication programme. EB51/WP/7.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication. EB51/SR/5: 69-74; EB51/SR/8: 105; EB51/SR/9: 124.
Resolution EB51.R26: Smallpox eradication programme .

1973: 26th World Health Assembly, 7-23 May

Report of the Director-General. Smallpox eradication. A26/7.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication. Off rec WHO 210, pp 282-94.
Resolution WHA26.29: Smallpox eradication programme.
[Plenary sessions: Selected comments made by various participants. Reproduced for distribution to SEP staff.]

1974: Executive Board, 53rd Session, 15-25 Jan

Proposed programme and budget estimates: Smallpox eradication. Off rec WHO 212: 160-3.
Report of the Director-General: Smallpox eradication programme. EB53/WP/8.
Report on smallpox eradication. Off rec WHO 216: 20.

1974: 27th World Health Assembly, 7-23 May

Report of the Director-General: Smallpox eradication. A27/WP/4.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication. Off rec WHO 218: 396-400.
Minutes of 16th committee meeting: Draft resolution on expanded programme on immunization. Off rec WHO 218: 447-8.
Resolution WHA27.57: Expanded programme on immunization. WHA 27.57.

1975: Executive Board, 55th Session, 20-31 Jan

Report of the Director General: Smallpox eradication programme. EB55/WP/15.
Organizational study on the interrelationships between the central technical services of WHO and programmes of direct assistance to Member States. Case studies on programme development: Smallpox eradication.. Annex 7, Appendix 2. Off Rec WHO 223: 97-99.

1975: 28th World Health Assembly, 13-30 May

Report of the Director-General: Smallpox eradication. A28/WP/7.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication. Off Rec WHO 227: 383-5, 387-92.
Resolution WHA28.52: Smallpox eradication programme.

1976: Executive Board, 57th Session 14-30 Jan

Report of the Director-General: Smallpox eradication programme. EB57/WP/9.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication programme. Off rec WHO 232: 141-6.
Summary report: Smallpox eradication programme. Off rec WHO 231: 137.

1976: 29th World Health Assembly, 3-21 May

Report by the Director-General: Smallpox eradication programme. A29/17.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication programme. Off rec WHO 234: 366-75, 391-2.
Resolution WHA29.54: Smallpox eradication programme.

1977: Executive Board, 59th Session, 13-28 Jan

Report by the Director-General: Smallpox eradication programme. EB59/19.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication. EB59/SR/22: 10-5.
Resolution EB59.R28: Smallpox eradication.

1977: 30th World Health Assembly, 2-19 May

Report by the Director-General: Smallpox eradication programme. A30/12.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication. Off rec WHO 241: 627-32, 636-40.
Resolution WHA30.52: Smallpox eradication. [Congratulates Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan on certification of eradication]
Resolution WHA30.53. Expanded programme on immunization. Off rec WHO 240: 33.

1978: Executive Board, 61st Session, 11-26 Jan

Report by the Director-General: Smallpox eradication programme. EB61/WP/1.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication programme. EB61/SR/12: 4-9.
Resolution EB61.R10: Smallpox eradication programme. [Establishment of Global Commission for Certification of Eradication of Smallpox]

1978: 31st World Health Assembly, 8-24 May

Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication: Current status and certification. Off rec WHO 248: 716-21.
Resolution WHA31.54: Smallpox eradication programme: Current status and certification.

1979: Executive Board, 63rd Session, 10-25 Jan

Report by the Director-General: Smallpox eradication programme. EB63/WP/1.
Resolution EB63.R5: Smallpox eradication programme.

1979: 32nd World Health Assembly, 7-25 May

Report by the Director-General. Smallpox eradication programme. A32/WP/3.

1980: Executive Board, 65th Session, 9-25 Jan

Report by the Director-General: Smallpox Eradication Programme. EB65/23.
Minutes of committee meetings: Smallpox eradication programme. EB65/SR/18: 8-14; EB65/SR/27:4-10; EB65/SR/28: 3-6.
Resolution EB65.R17: Global smallpox eradication.

1980: 33rd World Health Assembly, 5-23 May

Report by the Director-General Smallpox eradication programme. A33/4.
Resolution WHA33.3: Declaration of global smallpox eradication.
Resolution WHA33.4: Global smallpox eradication.

Documents | Smallpox: Eradication Program