The World Health Organisation.

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The World Health Organisation

Founded in 1948, the World Health Organization leads the world alliance for health for all. A specialized agency of the United Nations with 191 Member Sates, WHO promotes technical cooperation for health among nations, carries out programmes to control and eradicate disease, and strives to improve the quality of human life.

WHO has four main functions:

  • to give worldwide guidance in the field of health
  • to set global standards for health
  • to cooperate with governments in strengthening national health programmes
  • to develop and transfer appropriate health technology, information and standards

The WHO definition of health:

'Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.'

A major event in WHO's first fifty years was the global eradication of smallpox. This disease scarred and killed millions before being officially declared eradicated in 1980. Eradication resulted in a huge reduction in human suffering and great financial savings. The United States alone saves its entire investment in the eradication programme every month because costly protection measures are no longer needed.

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Other diseases such as polio and guinea-worm disease are on the verge of eradication and, thanks to new and better methods of treatment, leprosy is also being overcome.

But, as well as fighting infectious diseases, WHO is a key player in promoting primary health care, delivering essential drugs, making cities healthier, building partnerships for health, promoting healthy lifestyles and environments to achieve health for all.

Health Promotion and the Environment:

WHO has initiated successful health promotion projects, such as Healthy Cities and Villages, Healthy Islands and Health-Promoting Schools, Hospitals and Work Sites. Some projects target vulnerable populations such as the ...

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