World Health Organization: Empowering Global Health Initiatives

1. Good Morning

3. WHO • The World Health Organization is a specialized, nonpolitical, health agency of the United Nations.

4. The World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority on international health within the United Nations’ system.

5. 194 countries and two associate members are WHO’s membership.

6. They meet every year at the World Health Assembly in Geneva to set policy for the Organization, approve the Organization’s budget, and every five years, to appoint the Director-General.

7. Their work is supported by the 34-member Executive Board, which is elected by the Health Assembly. • Six regional committees focus on health matters of a regional nature.

8. WHO is unique among the UN specialized agencies • It is part of, but not subordinate to the United Nations

9. HISTORY • International health cooperation began with the first International Sanitary Conference in Paris, which opened on 23 July 1851.

10. At the 1903 conference it was agreed in principle that a permanent international health bureau should be established. • At that time, the American republics had already established the International Sanitary Bureau in 1902 in Washington- later renamed the Pan American Sanitary Bureau.

11. At a meeting of government representatives in Rome in 1907 the final decision was taken to establish an Office international d'Hygiène publique (OIHP) in Paris, with a permanent secretariat and a "permanent committee" of senior public health officials of member governments.

13. The League of Nations was created as an aftermath of the First World War. • One of its tasks was to "endeavour to take steps in matters of international concern for the prevention and control of disease".

14. In the years between the two World Wars, two independent international health organizations co-existed in Europe - the OIHP and the Health Organisation of the League of Nations.

16. United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration(UNRRA) was set up in 1943 with the general purpose of organizing recovery from the effects of second world war

17. In April 1945, during the Conference to set up the United Nations (UN) held in San Francisco, representatives of Brazil and China proposed that an international health organization be established and a conference to frame its constitution convened.

18. In 1946, the Constitution was drafted by the "Technical Preparatory Committee" under the chairmanship of Rene Sand, and was approved in the same year by an International Health Conference of 51 nations in New York.

19. The constitution came into force on 7th April, 1948 which is celebrated every year as "World Health Day"

20. Objective • The attainment by all people’s of the highest level of health which is set out in the preamble of the constitution

21. Preamble of the constitution states • Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity • Highest attainable standard of health • Health- fundamental to the attainment of peace and security • Healthy development of child

22. Extension to all people of the benefits of medical, psychological and related knowledge • Informed opinion and active cooperation on the part of the public • Governments have a responsibility for the health of their people

23. Structure The WHO consists of three principal organs : • the World Health Assembly, • the Executive Board and • the Secretariat.

24. World health assembly • This is the Health Parliament of nations and the supreme governing body of the organisation

25. World Health Assembly in Geneva

26. Functions • To determine international health policy and programmes • To review the work of last year • To approve the budget • To elect member states to designate a person to serve for 3 years on executive board

28. The executive board • Meets atleast twice a year • Give effect to the decisions and policies of the assembly • Emergency

29. The Secretariat • Provides member states with technical and managerial support for their national health development programmes

30. Recap • Introduction • History • Obectives and preamble • Structure

31. Work of WHO Prevention and control of specific diseases • Epidemiological surveillance of communicable dieseases- Automatic Telex Reply Service (ATRS) and Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER) • International Health Regulations (IHR) • Non communicable diseases • Vector biology and control, immunology, quality control, drug evaluation and monitoring

32. Development of comprehensive health services • Promote and support national health policy development • Comprehensive national health programmes • Appropriate Technology for Health (ATH)

33. Family health • Maternal and child health care • Human reproduction • Nutrition and • Health education • Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)

34. Environmental health • Provision of basic sanitary services. • Protection of quality of air, water and food • Health conditions of work • Radiation protection • Early identification of hazards from new technological developments

35. Health statistics

36. Biomedical research • WHO collaborating centers • Awarding grants • Regional advisory committee and global advisory committies

37. Health literature and information • WHO library is a satellite center of MEDLARS of US national library of medicine

38. Cooperation with other organisation Partners in health • UN agencies, donors, nongovernmental organizations, WHO collaborating centres and the private sector.

40. International Health Days • 4 February - World Cancer Day  • 6 February - International Day of Zero Tolerance to • Female Genital Mutilation  • 8 March- International Women's Day • 22 March - World Water Day • 24 March - World TB Day  • 7 April -World Health Day

41. 25 April - World Malaria Day • 21–28 April -World Immunization Week 2012 • 31 May - World No Tobacco Day  • 14 June -World Blood Donor Day •  28 July - World Hepatitis Day • 1–7 August - World Breastfeeding Week • 19 August - World Humanitarian Day • 10 September- World Suicide Prevention Day • 28 September - World Rabies Day  • 29 September - World Heart Day •  10 October - World Mental Health Day

42. 13 October -World Sight Day  • 12 November -World Pneumonia Day • 14 November - World Diabetes Day • 16 November-World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day  •  1 December 2012 World AIDS Day • 3 December- International Day of Persons with Disabilities • 10 December- Human Rights Day 

43. World Health Day • is a global campaign, inviting everyone – from global leaders to the public in all countries – to focus on a single health challenge with global impact. • Focusing on new and emerging health issues, World Health Day provides an opportunity to start collective action to protect people’s health and well-being. • It is an opportunity to engage in finding solutions that benefit us all.

44. World Health Day 2014Small bite, big threat

45. World Health Day 2013Control your blood pressure- silent killer, global public health crisis

46. World Health Day 2012Ageing and health- “Good health adds life to years”

47. World Health Day 2011Antimicrobial resistance: no action today no cure tomorrow

48. World Health Day 2010Urbanization and health

49. World Health Day 2009Save lives. Make hospitals safe in emergencies

50. World Health Day 2008Protecting health from climate change