The Family and Community Health Department (FCH) focuses on the health and development of individuals and families today and for future generations. Our units are united by a focus on people and address key stages of the life course.

Mission

FCH works to enhance health and development by supporting countries and partners to identify, develop, implement and evaluate approaches and interventions that foster healthy development across the life course.

Statement by Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General

“We need to take action on the ground, at the country level where the women will benefit from our work. Too many women still die during childbirth or soon after and actually we know the solutions, we know what to do. It is just a matter of getting it done”.

Statement by Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, Regional Director, SEARO

“In delivering health care to mothers, newborns and children, a continuum of care must be ensured at different levels. Unless all components of the health system operate in synergy, considerable reduction in morbidity and mortality will not be feasible. The importance of demand-side factors must also be acknowledged while designing interventions to ensure that due cognizance is given to social, cultural, economic and religious imperatives. In the absence of this, meaningful progress in MNCH will not be made.”

Regional Director’s speeches/messages

FHR works for a world in which:

      Making Pregnancy Safer and Reproductive Health – All women and their infants are born alive and healthy

      Nutrition and Food Safety - Nutrition, food safety and food security is improved throughout the life-course and in support of public health and sustainable development.

      Mental Health and Substance Abuse - The mental well-being of each and every person is promoted and appropriate mental health care to those who need such services is provided. There is a continuous effort to reduce harm from alcohol and phychoactive substance use.

      Nursing and Midwifery – Nurses and midwives provide quality of health care service contributing to the achievement of MDGs and Health for all

      Primary and Community Health Care – Revitalizing Community based initiatives for primary health care for improving universal access to health care.

      Child and Adolescent Health – A healthy start to life and children to develop to their full potential and become empowered adolescent.

      Immunization and Vaccine Development – Where people at risk are protected against vaccine-preventable disease

      Research Policy and Cooperation – Research for health that continuously provide evidence-based information for programme development.