WHO - INTERNATIONAL

News: Saima Wazed, nominated regional health director of World Health Organisation

 

What's in the news?

       Recently, the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s daughter, Saima Wazed, was nominated as the next Regional Director for the World Health Organization’s South-East Asia region.

 

About World Health Organisation:

       World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations’ specialized agency for Health was founded in 1948.

       Its headquarters are situated in Geneva, Switzerland.

       There are 194 Member States, 150 country offices, six regional offices.

       It is an intergovernmental organization and works in collaboration with its member states usually through the Ministries of Health.

       The WHO provides leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

       It began functioning on April 7, 1948 – a date now being celebrated every year as World Health Day.

 

       Objectives:

       To act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work.

       To establish and maintain effective collaboration with the United Nations, specialized agencies, governmental health administrations, professional groups and such other organizations as may be deemed appropriate.

       To provide assistance to the Governments, upon request, in strengthening health services.

       To promote cooperation among scientific and professional groups which contribute to the advancement of health.

 

       World Health Assembly:

       World Health Assembly (WHA) is WHO’s decision-making body attended by delegations from all of WHO’s member states,

       It is held yearly at the headquarters of WHO, i.e., Geneva, Switzerland.