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Memorandum of understanding

Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Health Organization and the Interanational Society and Federation of Cardiology (ISFC) - Now World Heart Federation

UNESCO, Headquarters
Paris, 17 January 1996

Having regard, on the one hand, to the Agreement of 17 July 1948 between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and, on the other hand, to the cooperative partnership initiated by these organizations and the International Society and Federation of Cardiology (ISFC) with a view to improve, in developing countries, the protection of health of school-age children and environmental health conditions in and around educational establishments,

Being aware that there is a need to expand efforts and to broaden cooperation among the parties, since in many disadvantaged areas, exposure to disease and infections is unfortunately high among school-age children, resulting in significant levels of disability that are associated with school absenteeism and failure,

UNESCO, WHO and ISFC agree as follows:

  1. The essential objective of joint cooperation between UNESCO, WHO, and ISFC will be to develop a programme of work to protect the health and welfare of school-age children especially in developing countries, through the prevention of rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease and Chagas' disease and, more broadly, through the prevention of disability, ill health and malnutrition. To this end, they will prepare a programme of work to attain the common objectives.

    Ad hoc scientific task forces on "Rheumatic fever", "Chagas' disease", and "Risk factors in developing countries" will be convened to provide advice to the parties on the programme of work.

  2. For the programme of work, joint efforts will be deployed to seek support from external funding sources. The funds will be utilized according to modalities to be agreed upon by the parties.

  3. When mutually agreed by the parties, cooperation with other governmental and non-governmental organizations will be sought to enhance programme effectiveness.

  4. The Memorandum of Understanding shall apply upon signature and until any party notifies the others in writing of its wish to terminate it.

For the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization
Federico Mayor
Director-General

For the World Health Organization
Hiroshi Nakajima
Director-General

For the International Society and Federation of Cardiology
Elliot Rapaport
President