Introduction of WHO

1. World Health Organisation
Sandeep Ghimire

2. Introduction
• After the Second World War, the United
Nations Organization (UNO), was established
in 1945 to maintain world peace and security

3. Introduction
• The United Nations Conference (1945) in San
Francisco, USA, unanimously approves the
establishment of a new, autonomous
international health organization.
3IH_BPH_3rd sem

4. Introduction
• The International Health Conference in New
York approves the Constitution of the World
Health Organization in July, 1946
4IH_BPH_3rd sem

5. Introduction
• The constitution was ratified by member
states by April 7, 1948, on which day the WHO
officially came into existence
• This day is hence
celebrated every
year as the World
Health Day.
5IH_BPH_3rd sem

6. • 1995: Global Polio Eradication
• 1996: Healthy Cities for better life
• 1997: Emerging infectious diseases
• 1998: Safe motherhood
• 1999: Active aging makes the difference
• 2000: Safe Blood starts with me

7. • 2001: Mental Health: stop exclusion, dare to
care
• 2002: Move for health
• 2003: Shape the future of life: healthy
environments for children
• 2004: Road safety
• 2005: Make every mother and child count
• 2006: Working together for health

8. • 2007: International health security
• 2008: Protecting health from the adverse effects
of climate change
• 2009: Save lives, Make hospitals safe in
emergencies
• 2010: Urbanization and health: make cities
healthier
• 2011: Antimicrobial resistance: no action today,
no cure tomorrow

9. • 2012: Good health adds life to years
• 2013: Healthy heart beat, Healthy blood
pressure
• 2014: Vector-borne diseases: small bite, big
threat
• 2015: Food safety
• 2016: Halt the rise: beat diabetes
• 2017: Depression: Let's talk

10. Constitution
• It was mainly drafted by Dr Rene Sand of
Brussels, a pioneer of social medicine, and Dr
Brock Chisholme,a Canadian psychiatrist who
became the first Director General of WHO

11. Objective
• The main objective of the WHO was stated as
“the attainment of the highest level of health
by all” which is basic to the happiness,
harmonious relations and security of all
peoples.

12. The objectives of the WHO are further reflected
in the preamble to the constitution as follows:

13. • ‘Health is a state of complete physical, mental
and social well-being and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity’.
• ‘The enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of health is one of the fundamental
rights of every human being without
distinction of race, religion, political belief,
economic or social condition.’

14. • ‘The health of all peoples is fundamental to
the attainment of peace and security and is
dependent upon the fullest cooperation of
individuals and States.’

15. • ‘The achievement of any State in the
promotion and protection of health is of value
to all. Unequal development in different
countries, in the promotion of health, control
of disease, especially communicable disease,
is a common danger’.

16. • ‘Health development of the child is of basic
importance; the ability to live harmoniously in
a changing total environment is essential to
such development.’

17. • ‘The extension to all peoples of the benefits of
medical, psychological and related knowledge
is essential to the fullest attainment of health.’
• Informed opinion and active cooperation on
the part of the public are of the utmost
importance in the improvement of the health
of the people.

18. • ‘Governments have a responsibility for the
health of their peoples which can be fulfilled
only by the provision of adequate health and
social measures.’

19. Organizational Structure
• The WHO consists of three principal
organs:
–The World Health Assembly (akin to a
Parliament)
–The Executive Board (akin to the
Cabinet) and
– The Secretariat.

20. • The WHO has six regional offices or
organizations in different parts of the world.

21. • There are 191 member states in the WHO and
2 associate members.
Region Number of Member
state
Africa 46
The Americas 35
Eastern Mediterranean 22
Europe 51
South East Asia 11
Western Pacific 28

22. WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
• It is the supreme governing body of the
organization and consists of delegates of the
Member States, each of whom carries one
vote
• The main task of the Assembly is to determine
international health policy and programs.
• It also appoints the Director General on the
recommendation of the Executive Board

23. EXECUTIVE BOARD
• It consists of 32 members, each designated by,
but not representing, a member state
• The task of the Board is to give effect to the
policies and decisions of the Assembly
• It can also take action on its own in situations
of emergency

24. • The WHO Secretariat is the administrative
wing of the WHO headed by the Director-
General
• 14 divisions and 13 programs

25. Divisions
1. Division of Epidemiological Surveillance and
Health Situation and Trend Assessment
2. Division of Communicable Diseases
3. Division of Vector Biology and Control
4. Division of Environmental Health
5. Division of Public Information and Education for
Health
6. Division of Mental Health
7. Division of Diagnostic, Therapeutic and
Rehabilitative Technology

26. 8. Division of Strengthening of Health Services
9. Division of Family Health
10.Division of Non communicable Diseases
11.Division of Health Manpower Development
12.Division of Information Systems Support
13.Division of Personnel and General Services
14.Division of Budget and Finance.

27. Programs
• Health and Biomedical Information Program
• Malaria Action Program
• Parasitic Diseases Program
• Expanded Program on Immunization
• Diarrheal Diseases Control Program
• Program for External Coordination
• Special Program for Research and Training in
Tropical Diseases

28. • Special Program of Research, Development and
• Research Training in Human Reproduction
• Action Program on Essential Drugs
• Special Program on AIDS
• Pharmaceuticals
• Health for All Strategy Coordination
• Office of Research Promotion and Development.

29. REGIONAL OFFICES
• Egypt for Eastern Mediterranean Region
• Manila (Philippines) for Western Pacific Region
• Delhi (India) for South-East Asia Region,
covering Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar
(Burma), Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,
Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, India,
Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan

30. • Copenhagen (Denmark) for European Region
• Brazzaville (Congo) for African Region
• Washington, DC for American Region (Pan
American Health Organization, PAHO)

31. Functions of WHO
• HEALTH SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
• BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
• PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF SPECIFIC
DISEASES
• HEALTH STATISTICS
• COOPERATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES

32. • FAMILY HEALTH
• ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
• HEALTH LITERATURE AND INFORMATION

33. WHO in Nepal
The six strategic priorities identified for WHO
cooperation during 2013-2017 are as follows:
• Achieving communicable diseases control targets.
– Vaccine preventable Diseases Surveillance &
Immunization
– Emerging Infectious Diseases surveillance & Response,
IHR-2005
– Neglected Tropical Diseases
– HIV Tuberculosis and Malaria and Vector borne
Diseases
– Blood Safety and Laboratory

34. • Controlling and reversing the growing burden
of non-communicable disease.
• Promoting health over the life-cycle focusing
on interventions for underprivileged and
vulnerable populations.
• Addressing environmental determinants of
health.

35. • Strengthening health systems within the
revitalized primary health care approach and
support policy dialogue on health policies,
strategies and plans for universal health
coverage.
• Reducing the health consequences of
disasters.

36. Reference
• http://www.searo.who.int/nepal/areas/en/