Please know that any use or reproduction of content must systematically and clearly state the following
copyright: World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
World Health Organization:
an Introduction
Source: EIO (Engaging Intergovernmental Organizations) 2013
Here is the death toll for the next hour…..
A total 1,000 children under five will die from a range of causes around the world (pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, measles and HIV/AIDS)
67 women - more than one every minute, will die because of inadequate care to deal with complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
416 newborns will die from preventable causes. 120 children, one every 30 seconds, will die of Malaria in Africa.
58 children will be infected with HIV/AIDS. Only 29 of them will see their second birthday.
In the developed world
In the US, 880,000 deaths could have been averted between 1991 and 2000 if the mortality rates between Caucasian-Americans and African-Americans were
equalized. This compares with 176,633 lives saved in the US by medical advances.
The US spends more on health than any other country and yet ranks 41
stin terms of life expectancy.
Millions without basic health care
Challenge 1: Epidemiological and Geographic Shifts
Non-communicable diseases are the world's leading causes of illness and death
The human race is ageing
Urbanisation
Migration and mobile populations
Challenge 2: Health Security
Outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics
Intentional and accidental use of biological, chemical and radionuclear agents, material and weapons
Natural disasters
Civil unrest, internal conflicts and wars
1945
1948
2009
What is WHO?
UN specialized agency for health
193 countries (Ministries of Health) collectively decide
together with WHO Secretariat on global health priorities and action to save lives and improve health.
HQ in Geneva, 6 regional
offices and 150 country offices to work closely with health
actors on the ground
Our main goals
Promote health
development: Give priority to health outcomes in poor,
disadvantaged or vulnerable groups
– Millennium Development Goals (MDGs):
maternal and child mortality, HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, women's health,
environmental health, etc – Non-communicable diseases – Universal access to health care
Our main goals
Promote health security:
Addressing common
threats and vulnerability we are facing
– Prevent, control and manage outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics
– Respond to humanitarian crises (natural disasters, wars)
Our approach
Use evidence and
research
to frame ethicalpolicy options for countries and guidelines to improve people's health
Strengthen health
systems:
health workers, improve supply, distribution of medicines & diagnostics,logistics and supply chains, financing for health services
Supporting countries
technical support to countries that do no have sufficient
capacity of their own
monitor and assess global health trends hand-in-hand with national and regional agencies
set universal norms and
standards to facilitate delivery and reduce errors
Enhancing partnerships
WHO works with the support and collaboration of many partners including other UN agencies, donors, NGOs and the private sector.
Finding new ways of working with our partners is key to achieving our goals.
Milestones
WHO is born 7 April 1948, Disease classification systematized
Eradication programs: smallpox
eradicated (1979), guinea worm (2007)
Ongoing: Malaria, onchocerciasis, TB, AIDS and polio programs have already saved or improved millions of lives
Essential medicines list (1977)
Alma Ata declaration (1978) mobilizes people across the globe around the goal of health for all
Millennium Development Goals (2000)
Milestones
SARS (2003)
Non-communicable diseases:
FCTC (2003), Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (2004)
IHR updated (2005), health
humanitarian response systems improved
2010: More than 5 million people on anti-retroviral treatment
Commission on Social
Determinants of Health (2008)
Influenza A (H1N1): First pandemic of 21st century (2009)
