World Health Organization (WHO)
World Health Organization is viewed as succour from disease, deliverance from the afflictions of life threatening conditions and as a savior who may alleviate their poverty. It is to credit of the WHO that its name invokes such hope and passion in the hearts of the world's poor.
It has done commendable work to eradicate common infectious diseases, improving mother and child health care, and taking measures to improve conditions and health of peoples all over the world.
The World Health Organization:
One organization, which stands testimony to the inherent goodness of men, their desire to improve the lives of their fellowmen, to alleviate the troubles due to disease and uplift mankind, is the World Health Organization. Founded in 1948 by the member states of the United Nations and headquartered in Geneva, it has a single agenda of improving the health of the people all over the world. It monitors disease outbreaks, plans preventive measures, provides cost effective medications and combats effectively to eradicate infectious disease.
The main goals of the World Health Organization (WHO) are:
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1) To improve and set standards in the field of health and provide logistic support to health care agencies.
2) To work with the governments to implement and strengthen health initiatives.
3) Research and develop methods to combat disease and make available their study and technology to all.
World Health Organization (WHO) works with UNICEF, UNESCO, World Bank and other UN Departments.
World Health Organization's activism (WHO's activism) in developing countries has increased life expectancy from 48 years to 70 years, infant mortality fell from 148 per 1000 live births to 59 per 1000 live births and population growth has slowed down. The World Health Organization (WHO) health for all (HFA) and primary health care (PHC) initiatives have covered new ground in reaching out to the world's poor and indigent people to have access to quality health care.
Working:
The World Health Organization (WHO) operates through three principal bodies:
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1) The World Health Assembly which is the general policy making body
2) Executive Board of Health Specialists
3) Secretariat which has offices and field workers all over the world.
World Health Organization's Objectives (WHO's Objectives):
The World Health Organization's objectives (WHO's objectives) are enshrined in its Constitution as the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health. Health being defined from the state which provide total mental, physical and social well being and must not merely the absence of disease.
Additional Responsibilities of the World Health Organization (WHO):
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1) To issue scientific and medical assessment of drugs and monitor its regulation.
2) It compiles the International Classification of Disease (ICD)
3) It also maintains a list of necessary medicines that should be cost-effective and stocked by the governments to be supplied to the people.
Diseases combated by the World Health Organization (WHO):
- World Health Organization (WHO) has battled infectious diseases, often taking the fight to their home and finally eliminating them.
- In 1967 World Health Organization (WHO) began its campaign against smallpox and sustained efforts led to its elimination by 1979.
- WHO has controlled the lice borne typhus and the disfiguring yaws.
- The campaign to eradicate polio began in 1980 and by now it is on the verge of disappearing.
- Universal salt iodination has eliminated iodine-deficiency disorders.
- Mass campaigns against malaria have kept it under control.
- The 1996 outbreak of the Ebola virus in Zaire resulted in the establishment of a division to fight viral and bacterial outbreaks.
- In 2003 it organized an all out effort to contain the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
A renewed fight against tuberculosis:
- An immunization program to combat polio, measles, diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus.
- Campaign against tobacco and finally its work in curbing the AIDS pandemic and the efforts it has made to make available the AIDS medication at a reduced cost.
- WHO has made considerable effort to improve nutrition, availability of safe drinking water and sanitation.
Jobs at World Health Organization (WHO):
The immense reach of World Health Organization (WHO) requires trained professionals to deliver services. Vacancies are in the regional offices, at the UN and also at Geneva.
Apart from trained doctors and physicians, opportunities exist for Administrative officers, Advisor for family and community health, Biostatician, communication officer, Country program analyst, data manager, Epidemiologist, external relation officer, finance officer, budget officers, technical officer, scientist and others. The jobs available are many and varied and if you fulfil certain conditions you can make it.
Concluding with a statement of the current Director- General Margaret Chan "Our greatest concern must always rest with disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. These groups are often hidden in remote and rural areas or shantytowns and have little political voice. This sentiment exactly sums up the work done by the World Health Organization (WHO).
