The presentation is about important international health agencies like WHO, UNICEF, Red Cross etc

1. INTERNATIONAL
HEALTH
Dr Lipilekha Patnaik
Professor, Community Medicine
Institute of Medical Sciences & SUM Hospital
Siksha ‘O’Anusandhan deemed to be
University Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

2. • Before the conclusion of second world
was, an appeal was made by 4 great
powers Britain, France, USA, USSR to set
up an organization for prevention and
control of diseases.
• A conference was held at Sans Francisco
in 1945 and an organization called the
United Nations emerged from there.
• Important act of UNO was constitution of
World Health Organization as one of its
specialized agencies.

3. World health organization
• WHO is a specialized ,non political, health
agency of United Nations Organization with
headquarters at Geneva. It came into force on 7
April 1948 which is celebrated as World Health
Day.
• A theme is chosen each year to focus attention
on a specific aspect of public health.
• OBJECTIVE: Attainment of highest level of
health by all people of the world .

4. Structure
1. The World Health Assembly :It is the governing
body .It represents all the member states ,each
member state can send 3 delegates ,each has the
right of one vote .It meets annually in May generally
at Geneva.
Functions:
i. to determine health policies and programmes
ii. To review work of past year
iii. To approve the budget for the following year.
iv. To elect member states to designate a person to
serve for 3 years on executive board

5. 2. THE EXECUTIVE BOARD:
• The board has 31 members who are technically qualified
in field of health. It meets twice a year in January and
May to give effect to the decisions and policies of the
Assembly
• Board has power to take action in an emergency
3. THE SECRETARIAT:
It is headed by Director General who is technical and
administrative officer of the organization and under whom
5 Assistant Director-Generals are working
• .
• Function is to provide member states with technical and
managerial support for health development programmes
• It has various divisions i.e. communicable diseases,
environment health, mental health, budget and finance,
family health, information system.

6. REGIONS
Regions
1. Africa
2. The Americas
3. South East Asia
4. Europe
5. Eastern
Mediterranean
6. Western Pacific
Headquarters
• Harare (Zimbabwe)
• Washington (USA)
• New Delhi (India)
• Copenhagen
(Denmark)
• Alexandria (Egypt)
• Manila (Philippines)

7. WHO work
1. Prevention and control of specific diseases:
• smallpox eradication is an example of
international cooperation.
• Communicable diseases- battle against Polio,
measles and other EPI diseases and AIDS.
• The WHO Collects and disseminates
epidemiological information on diseases
subject to International Health Regulations
through Weekly Epidemiological Record
newsletter
• Non communicable diseases- cancer, CAD,
Drug addiction, mental health
• Study on vector biology, immunology, quality
control of drugs

8. 2. Development of comprehensive health
services: promotion and support of health policy
and primary health care.
3. Family health: MCH,nutrition and health
education
4. Environmental health : provision of safe drinking
water and sanitary latrines. Protection of air,
water ,food quality and global warming.
5. Health statistics :data on various health
problems is disseminated through publications.
International classification of diseases is
updated after every ten years.

9. 6. Biomedical research: it has world wide
collaborating centers, provides grant and
training to workers.
7. Health literature and information:
WHO library is one of satellite centers of
Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval
System
8. Cooperation with other organizations

10. UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL
CHILDREN’S FUND
• Established in 1946 to deal with rehabilitation
of war affected children.
• When emergency services were over , it was
renamed as UN Children Fund.
• Functions:
i. Child health
ii. Child nutrition
iii. Family and child welfare
iv. education

11. UNICEF is promoting a new campaign
• G – growth charts for monitoring child
development
• O - oral rehydration solution to treat
dehydration
• B – breast feeding
• I – immunisation
• F – food supplementation
• F – female literacy
• F – family welfare

12. • UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME: Established
in 1966.
Objective : To help poor nations develop their human and natural
resources more fully.
• UNITED NATIONS FUNDS FOR POPULATION ACTIVITIES:
established in 1974
Objectives :
1. To develop nations capability to manufacture contraceptives
2. To develop population education programme
3. Introduction of innovative approaches to family planning and MCH
care
• THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION : established
in 1945,headquaters in Rome.
Objectives :
1. To help nations raise living conditions
2. To improve nutrition of people
3. To increase the efficiency of farming , forestry and fisheries.

13. q INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANISATION
(ILO) established in 1919 ,with headquarters in
Geneva, Switzerland.
Purpose :
• To promote social justice ,economic and social
stability.
• To improve through international action , labor
conditions and living standards.
• WORLD BANK :It is an International bank for
reconstruction and development .(1944)
The bank gives loans to less developed countries
for projects that lead to economic growth.

14. Non governmental agencies
• Rockefeller Foundation : in 1913 by Mr. John
D Rockefeller
Purpose: to promote the wellbeing of mankind.
Works done in India :
1. Control of hookworm disease in Madras.
2. The establishment of All India Institute of
Hygiene and Public Health at Kolkata.
3. Training of competent teachers ,sending
candidates abroad through fellowships and
sponsorships.
4. Providing grant –in-aid to institutions ,
development of medical college libraries.
5. Setting up of field demonstration areas

15. • Ford Foundation : It has been active in development of
rural health services and family planning.
Works done in India:
1. Established orientation training centers at Singur,
Poonamalle and Najafgarh.
2. Research –cum-action projects :designing and construction
of sanitary latrines in rural areas.
3. Supported the establishment of National Institute of Health
Administration and Education at Delhi.
• Co- operative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere :
It was founded in North America in 1945 .
Objective in India : To provide for food in children.
It supports India in ICDS programme, nutrition and anemia
control projects, adolescent girls and reproductive health of
women .

16. • International Red Cross : by John Henry Dunant
In 1859
It is the biggest relief organization in the world
Role : humanitarian service to victims of war and natural
disasters, first aid and nursing services ,health education
and maternity and child welfare services.
q Indian Red Cross: in 1920
Objectives :
1. Improvement of health
2. Prevention of diseases
3. Mitigation of suffering
In peace time it provides periodicals and comfort goods to
military hospitals.