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The objective of the World Health Organization (hereinafter called
the Organization) shall be the attainment by all peoples of the highest
possible level of health.
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Roll-Back Malaria
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WHO is also working
to Roll Back Malaria by developing a new health sector wide approach to
combat the disease at global, regional, country and local levels. Malaria is a major health problem in Africa
and South-East Asia
and an important cause of poverty.
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In order to achieve its objective, the functions of the Organization
shall be:
 to
act as the directing and co-ordinating authority
on international health work;
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Combatting Human Immuno
Virus / Acquired Immuno-Deficiency syndrome
(HIV/AIDS)
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WHO has a crucial
role to play in providing technical support to Member Countries in Human Immuno Virus /
Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS)
prevention and care.
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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;
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Stop
TB
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Nearly 40% of global burden of tuberculosis
is in South-East Asia Region. WHO has taken a leadership role in
accelerating implementation of DOTs strategy in
the Region.
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to
assist Governments, upon request, in strengthening health services;
to
furnish appropriate technical assistance and, in emergencies, necessary aid
upon the request or acceptance of Governments;
to
provide or assist in providing, upon the request of the United Nations,
health services and facilities to special groups, such as the peoples of
trust territories;
to
establish and maintain such administrative and technical services as may be
required, including epidemiological and statistical services;
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No-Tobacco
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The hazards of tobacco use have been proven
and highlighted worldwide. Its use has increasingly been reported among
women and youth. In the South-East Asia Region, tobacco poses tremendous
health, economic and social challenges. Protecting vulnerable groups such
as women and children and reducing the health and economic burden of
tobacco use is a priority. WHO has, intensified its advocacy with Member
Countries for more stringent tobacco control measures.
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to
stimulate and advance work to eradicate epidemic, endemic and other
diseases;
to
promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary,
the prevention of accidental injuries;
to
promote in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary,
the improvement of nutrition, housing, sanitation, recreation, economic or
working conditions and other aspects of environmental hygiene;
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Eradication, Prevention and control of specific communicable
diseases.
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WHO is supporting its Member Countries in
eradication of dracunculiasis, poliomyelitis,
yaws and elimination of leprosy.WHO is also
working for the prevention and control of priority diseases in the
Region, e.g. Human Immuno Virus / Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), Tuberculosis
(TB), Malaria, Diarrhoeal Diseases, Respiratory
Infection, Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF),
Japanese Encephalitis and Rabies.
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to
promote co-operation among scientific and professional groups which
contribute to the advancement of health;
to
propose conventions, agreements and regulations, and make recommendations
with respect to international health matters and to perform such duties as
may be assigned thereby to the Organization and are consistent with its
objective;
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Environmental
Health
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WHO is supporting the Member Countries in
promoting Environmental Health, especially water supply, sanitation and
personal hygiene. (It is also spearheading the
"healthy environment setting" initiative)
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to
promote maternal and child health and welfare and to foster the ability to
live harmoniously in a changing total environment;
to
foster activities in the field of mental health, especially those affecting
the harmony of human relations;
to
promote and conduct research in the field of health;
to
promote improved standards of teaching and training in the health, medical
and related professions;
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Reproductive Health, Safe Motherhood and
Adolescent Health
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In recognition of the substantial proportion
of burden of disease and disability related to reproductive health
as well as prevailing high maternal mortality in many countries of the
Region, WHO identifies Reproductive Health
with life span perspective as a priority area with safe motherhood,
family planning, prevention and treatment of complications of abortion,
Reproductive Tract Infection /Sexually Transmitted Diseases (RTI/STD) and
adolescent health as essential
interventions.
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to
study and report on, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where
necessary, administrative and social techniques affecting public health and
medical care from preventive and curative points of view, including
hospital services and social security;
to
provide information, counsel and assistance in the field of health;
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Non-Communicable diseases
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WHO is putting increased emphasis on prevention
and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).It
is estimated, in 1998, about 6.7 million deaths out of 14.8 million total
deaths (45%) in SEAR countries were due to NCDs.
The diseases are rapidly increasing in developing countries where a
much younger age group of population is affected than in the developed
world. WHO is trying to address this challenge through an integrated prevention
of the main risk factors.
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to
assist in developing an informed public opinion among all peoples on
matters of health;
to
establish and revise, as necessary, international nomenclatures of
diseases, of causes of death and of public health practices;
to
standardize diagnostic procedures as necessary;
to
develop, establish and promote international standards with respect to
food, biological, pharmaceutical and similar products;
generally to take all necessary action to attain the
objective of the Organization.
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IMCI
involves with health workers and parents in the care of children.
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Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) tackles the major
killers of children through their prevention and treatment in an
integrated manner. This is being achieved by improving skills of health
staff, health systems and family and community practices.
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