Nothing on earth is more international than health

Nothing on earth is more international than health

Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere

International Health Agencies Dr Poonam R Naik

Contents: 1. WHO: Structure and functions 2. UNICEF: Services and GOBI-FFF 3. Other international organisations

WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION

Background • Specialized, non political, health agency of the United Nations, with headquarters at Geneva • The constitution came into force on 7 th April, 1948 which is celebrated every year as “World Health Day” • Objective : The attainment by all people of the highest level of health” which is set out in the preamble of the constitution

Membership: • Membership open to all countries. • Each member state contributes yearly to the budget • Each is entitled to the services & aid the organization can provide.

Structure of WHO: It consists of three principal organs: 1. The World Health Assembly 2. The Executive Board 3. The Secretariat

The World Health Assembly: a) This is the “Health Parliament” of Nations and the supreme governing body of the organization. b) The main functions of the Health Assembly are (i) to determine international health policy and programmes. (ii) to review the work of the past year. (iii) to approve the budget needed for the following year. (iv) to elect Member States to designate a person to serve for three years on the Executive Board and to replace the retiring members. (V) It also appoints the Director General on the nomination of the Executive Board.

The Executive Board: • The members of the Board are to be “technically qualified in the field of health”. • The Executive Board meets twice a year, generally in January and May. • The main work of the board is to give effect to the decisions and polices of the Assembly. • It also has power to take action in emergency conditions, such as epidemics, earthquakes and floods.

The Secretariat: • It is headed by the Director General (Dr. Tedros) who is the chief technical and administrative officer of the organization. • The primary function: To provide Members States with technical and managerial support for their national health development programmes. • Comprises of health experts, 5 Assistant Director Generals who are responsible for the work of different divisions

The secretariat has the following 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.

7. Division of strengthening of health services. 9. Division of family health. 10. Division of non-communicable diseases. 11. Division of health man power development. 12. Division of information systems support. 13. Division of personnel and general services. 14. Division of budget and finance.

Regions of WHO: Ø It has six regional organizations Ø Meet the special health needs of different areas Ø Implement the policies and programs Region Headquarters South East Asia New Delhi Africa Harare (Zimbabwe) The Americas Washington D. C Europe Copenhagen (Denmark) Eastern Mediterranean Alexandria (Egypt) Western Pacific Manila

Functions of WHO: • Act as the directing and coordinating authority on all international health work • Has specific responsibilities for establishing and promoting international standards in the field of health.

Work of WHO 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Prevention and Control of Specific Diseases Development of comprehensive health services Health Statistics Bio-Medical Research Environmental Health Family Health Literature and Information Cooperation with Other Organizations

Prevention and Control of Specific Diseases: • Epidemiological surveillance of communicable diseases. • It collects and disseminates epidemiological information on diseases through Automatic Telex Reply Services (ATRS) and the “Weekly Epidemiological Record” (WER). • Communicable diseases: Examples: RNTCP, NPSP: WHO consultants • Non-communicable disease problems • Immunization against common diseases of childhood

Development of comprehensive health services: i. iii. iv. v. Promote and support national health policy development Development of national comprehensive health programs Development of primary health care systems Building of long term national capability, manpower, infrastructure, health services research Technology for health

Health Statistics: • Dissemination of morbidity and mortality statistics: Weekly Epidemiological Record, World Health Statistics Quarterly and Annuals. • “International Classification of Diseases” (ICD) which is updated every 10 th year. • Assistance is also given to countries in the improvement of medical records, planning and operating national health information systems.

Bio-Medical Research: • It has established a world-wide network of WHO collaborating centres, awarding grants to research workers and institutions for promoting research. • WHO special programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases to develop new tools, strengthen research institutions and training workers in the countries affected. • WHO-TDR and IUATLD OR courses

Environmental Health: • It advices government on national programmes for the provision of basic sanitary services. • Activities: Protection of the quality of air, water and food; health conditions of work, radiation protection and early identification of new hazards. • Programmes like ‘WHO Environment health Criteria Programme’, ‘WHO Environment Health Monitoring Programme’ were developed towards improving environmental health.

Family Health: • It is one of the major activities of WHO since 1970. • It is broadly divided into maternal and child health care, human reproduction, nutrition and health education. Health Literature and Information: • Its library is one of the satellite centres of the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (MEDLARS) of the U. S. National Library of Medicine. Cooperation with Other Organizations: • It has established relations with international governmental organizations.

Work of WHO 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Prevention and Control of Specific Diseases Development of comprehensive health services Health Statistics Bio-Medical Research Environmental Health Family Health Literature and Information Cooperation with Other Organizations

UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) ØInternational health agency ØIt is a specialized health agency of United Nations ØCreated initially to provide emergency food and medicine to children after IInd world war in countries devastated by war ØIt was created by UN General assembly on December 11, 1946 ØUNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND (UNCF)

• UNICEF works in close collaboration with WHO and other UN agencies like FAO, UNESCO • Greater attention shifted to concept of “Whole Child” • Provides assistance to countries for child development, personnel development

UNICEF services i. Child health ii. Child nutrition iii. Family and child welfare iv. Education

1. Child health i. Vaccines production ii. Supported India’s BCG vaccination programme iii. Establishment of penicillin plant near Pune, DDT plant, triple vaccine manufacture, and iodized salt iv. Assisted environmental sanitation program: emphasizing safe water supply in rural areas, adequate sanitation v. Providing primary health care to mothers and children vi. Family planning Services are provided in coordination with primary health workers by their volunteers

2. Child nutrition i. Nutrition: High priority ii. Development of low cost protein rich food Examples: Davangere mix, Hyderabad mix iii. Support to Applied nutrition programs iv. Supplied equipment for modern dairy plants in various parts of India v. Prevention of nutritional deficiency like: xerophthalmia, salt enrichment with iodine, IFA tablets provision vi. Development of national nutrition policy

3. Family and child welfare: i. Objective is to improve care of children both within and outside the homes ii. Parent education, day care centers, child welfare and youth agencies, women’s clubs

4. Education: Formal and non formal i. In collaboration with UNESCO ii. Assisting India in expansion and improvement of teaching science iii. Science lab equipment, workshop tools, library resources, AV aids

UNICEF major campaign GOBI-FFF G Growth monitoring O Oral rehydration B Breast feeding I Immunization F Family planning F Female literacy F Food fortification

Other organizations UNDP (United Nations Development Program) UNFPA (United Nations Fund for FAO (Food and Agricultural population Activities) Organization) Main source of funds for technical assistance Providing assistance to India since 1974 Formed in 1945 with headquarters in Rome Objective: Help poorer nations to develop their human and natural resources Development of health and family welfare services, infrastructure and improvement in availability of services in rural areas To develop national capability in manufacture of contraceptives, develop population education programs, improve services approach (innovative approach) Objectives: To help the nations to raise their living standards Increase efficiency of farming, forestry and fisheries Prime concern: Increased production of food and combat malnutrition Covers health, education, science, industry and agriculture sectors

ILO (International Labour Organization) To improve through international action the working, living conditions and labour conditions of all workers World Bank Established with the purpose of helping less developed nations to raise their living standards Bank offers loans for projects whish will lead to economic growth Works in close collaboration with Projects concerned with electric WHO in field of health and labour power, roads , railways, agriculture, water supply, education, family planning Headquarters: Geneva, Collaborative projects with WHO Switzerland include: water supply projects, World Food programme, Population control

Review: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. i. iii. Structure of WHO Work of WHO Name any five divisions of WHO World Health Day observed on: WHO theme 2018: Services of UNICEF and UNICEF major campaign Name other international organisations: Organisations for : Population activities: Occupational Health Offers loans for development