Special Programme on Human Reproduction
The Human Reproduction Program -
It resulted in the following marketed
- Estradiol cypionate/medroxyprogesterone acetate (EC/MPA; brand names Cyclofem, Lunelle; code names HRP-112, Cyclo-Provera)
- Estradiol valerate/norethisterone enanthate(EV/NETE; brand name Mesigyna; code name HRP-102)
And in the following never-marketed
- Levonorgestrel butanoate (LNG-B; code name HRP-002)
- Levonorgestrel cyclobutylcarboxylate (code name HRP-001)
- Levonorgestrel cyclopropylcarboxylate (code name HRP-003)
Creation of the Human Reproduction Unit
Since the first United Nations
As the Second World Population Conference was meeting in Belgrade in 1965, the WHO was wondering how it could contribute.[13] For the Director-General, as he said in a report demanded by the WHO Executive Council, "the importance of many medical, biological, social, cultural and economic factors in human reproduction makes it a major public health problem",[12] which justified the decision to work on the demographic question, especially via the subject of human reproduction. The report was approved by the World Health Assembly, and it was decided to study sterility, the regulation of fertility, and the health aspect of demography.[14] This mark the beginning of the Human Reproduction Unit. Its mission was to give technical advice on human reproduction aspects that were involved in public health.
Development of the Unit and creation of a global program of research
The Human Reproduction Unit continued its mission and expanded its research not to only take into account strictly the medical aspect of human reproduction, but also economic, sociological, cultural, and psychological factors. The Unit was organizing meetings of experts and began to create a centre of documentation on human reproduction. In 1970, the WHO designated the Reproductive Endocrinology Research Unit of the Karolinska Institute of Stockholm as research and training centre on human reproduction.[15]
Pleased by the progress made, the World Health Assembly requested the Director-General to consider a way to develop family planning services.[16] In 1970, the WHO launched a feasibility study about a global program of research on human reproduction. A report was thus presented in 1971 and advocated for a five ways action plan.[17] First, the designation of four Research and Training Centres, which would have to be leaders on the research on human reproduction in their respective region. Second, the collaboration with Clinical Research Centres to facilitate the clinical evaluation of new fertility regulating agents. Third, the creation of task Forces to conduct the research projects. Fourth, the creation of an international documentation centre on biomedical aspects of human reproduction (this point was not executed due to limited funding at the time). The fifth point was about secondary objectives and miscellaneous recommendations.
The Human Reproduction Unit was charged with the creation and administration of the new "Expanded Programme of Research, Development, and Research Training in Human Reproduction". In 1972, the World Health Assembly voted the WHA25.60 resolution "on WHO's role in the development and coordination of biomedical research", which requested the Director-General to "prepare proposals for the development of long-term WHO activities in biomedical research within the framework of the programmes being carried out by the Organization".[18] He presented a report on this matter in December of the same year, including human reproduction and especially the Expanded Programme in the researches to fund.[19] According to previous directors of the Programme, it is the date which formally established the HRP.[20]
Expanded Programme of Research, Development, and Research Training in Human Reproduction
The Expanded Programme was directed by an Advisory Group of 12 to 15 people designated by the Director-general. Their role was to advise the WHO on the policies, the strategies, the research priorities, and the resource affectation.[21] The technical details of the scientific projects, the control of the publications and works of the Task Forces were delegated to a Review Group, which also designated the Clinical Research Centres.
In 1977, the Expanded Programme became the Special Programme.
Evolution to a Co-sponsored Special Programme
In 1986, the structure of the Programme changed.
In 1988, the co-sponsorship of the Programme began:
Finally, in 1996, the Gender Advisory Panel was created in order to keep particular attention to issues linked to gender inequities, mutilations and violence based on sex and rights based on sexual practice and orientation.[24] It became the Gender and Rights Advisory Panel in 2007.
The HRP was still part of the Human Reproduction Unit, but other WHO organs were working on demography-linked subjects. Thus, in 1998, to avoid duplicate efforts, the Unit merged with the Reproductive Health Division into the Department of Reproductive Health and Research (RHR).
In 2012, UNICEF joined the co-sponsors.
See also
References
- ^ "sexual and reproductive health and research-SHR". Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- ^ a b Benagiano, G., & Merialdi, M. (2011). Carl Djerassi and the World Health Organisation special programme of research in human reproduction. Journal für Reproduktionsmedizin und Endokrinologie-Journal of Reproductive Medicine and Endocrinology, 8(1), 10-13. http://www.kup.at/kup/pdf/10163.pdf
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- ^ "Population growth and economic development". United Nations. March 9, 1963.
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- ^ "World Health Organization: Resolution WHA25.60 on WHO's role in the development and coordination of biomedical research, Twenty-fifth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 9-26 May 1972 - Part I: resolutions and decisions pp.32-33". 26 May 1972. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "World Health Organization: EB51/6 - WHO's role in the development and coordination of biomedical research: interim report by the Director-General, December 1972" (PDF). 20 December 1972. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
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