Respect for AIDS victims rights, wars against polio, smoking asked.

• Position: World Health Assembly - Includes related article

Respect for the human rights of victims of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and campaigns against polio and smoking have been called for by the 41st World Health Assembly (Geneva, 2-13 May). The 166-member body which guides the work of the World Health Organization (WHO), also urged that "unprecedented measures" be taken to help the least developed countries improve the health of their people.

Governments were also called on to increase their primary health care efforts in order to attain the WHO goal of "Health for All by the Year 2000" so that all the peoples of the world could lead socially and economically productive lives.

At a solemn ceremony on 4 May to celebrate the 40th anniversary of WHO, outgoing Director-General Dr Halfdan Mahler said the organization had made "a unique contribution to the restoration of social justice in health matters by demonstrating how health can be achieved by all and not just by the privileged few".

He reviewed the organization's main achievements, including the eradication of smallpox and the success of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, which now covers half of the world's children, compared to 5 per cent 10 years ago. He also cited programmes to combat diarrhoeal diseases; prevent coronary heart disease and lung cancer; control parasitic diseases; develop vaccines for leprosy, typhoid fever and cholera; and promote the concept of essential drugs.

Dr. Hiroshi Nakajima of Japan was appointed the new DirectorGeneral of WHO, beginning 21 July for five years. Dr. Mahler was named Director-General Emeritus, in recognition of his 15 years of dedicated service.

Assembly President DE NganduKabeya Dibandala, Minister of Public Health and Social Affairs of Zaire, said that if health was the ultimate goal of development, it was also one of the most important instruments for development. AIDS rights

In a text sponsored by 70 nations, the Assembly made a unanimous call to all Governments to avoid any form of discrimination against people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or people with AIDS. Respect for the rights and dignity of those people was vital to the success of national and international efforts against the deadly discase, it said.

Member States, it said, should foster a spirit of understanding and compassion for them through information, education and social support, should avoid stigmatizing them in the provision of services, employment and travel, and should also ensure...