World Heath Organization

(WHO)

Y. Pavitra (92 Batch)A V Medical

College,Pondicherry

BACKGROUNDWorld Health Organisation (WHO) is a specialized, nonpolitical,health agency of the United Nations

Established on- 7 April 1948.

Headquarter-Geneva.

World Health Day- 7 April ,every year

A World Heath Day theme is chosen each year

The formation of WHO represents the culmination of efforts to establish a single worldwide inter-governmental health

agency

WHO Headquarters in Geneva

OBJECTIVE OF WHO

“the attainment of highest level of heath by all people”

HFA by 2000: Attainment by all people of the world

by the year 2000AD of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life

HEALTH ACCORING TO WHO

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-

being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”

Not only is this the WHO’s definition of health but is also

the preamble an introduction of the Constitution

MEMBERSHIP

Membership into WHO is open to all countries.

All countries that are part of the UN are also members of WHO, with the exception of Switzerland as an example of a country which is part of WHO but not the UN

WHO’S WORK

To act as the directing and coordinating authority on

all international health work

Collectively identify priority health problems throughout the world, define collectively health policies and targets to cope with the policies

Devise strategies, principles and programs

Establish and promote international standards in the field of health

WHO’S WORK

1. Prevention and control of specific diseases

2. Development of comprehensive health services

3. Family health4. Environmental health5. Health statistics6. Bio-medical research7. Health literature and information8. Cooperation with other organizations

STRUCTURE

WHO consists of 3 principal organs1.World Health Assembly

The main functions: to determine international health policy and

programmes, to review the work of the past year, to approve the budget needed for the

following year to elect Member States to designate a person

to serve for three years on the Executive Board .

STRUCTURE

2. The Executive BoardThe representatives are designated by,

but do not represent their governments.

The main works: to give effect to the decisions and

policies of the Assembly to take action itself in an emergency

(epidemics, earthquakes and floods)

STRUCTURE

3. The Secretariat

It provides technical and managerial support to member countries for their national health programmes

REGIONS

REGION HEADQUARTER1. South East Asia New Delhi (India)

2. Africa Harare (Zimbabwe)

3. The Americas Washington D.C (U.S.A)

4. Europe Copenhagen (Denmark)

5. Eastern Mediterranean Alexandria (Egypt)

6. Western Pacific Manila (Philippines)

WHO member countries from SEAR: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor- Leste

World Health Day Themes

2001: mental health: stop exclusion, dare to care

2002: move for health

2003: healthy environment for children

2004: road safety

2005: make every mother and child count

2006: working together for health

2007: invest in health, build a safer future

2008: protecting health from climate change