What is the History of WHO?
1945: Planning for WHO
Diplomats meeting in San Francisco, California to form the United Nations agree that throughout modern history, there has been insufficient collaboration between countries to control the spread of dangerous diseases across the world. Together they decide on the need for a global organization overseeing global health.
1946: WHO Constitution approved
WHO's Constitution is drafted and then approved at the International Health Conference in New York City.
1947
First-ever global disease-tracking service
WHO establishes the first-ever global disease-tracking service, with information transmitted via telex
1948
WHO Constitution comes into force
WHO's Constitution comes into force on 7 April ̶ a date we now celebrate every year as World Health Day. Following the mandate established by Member States, WHO begins its first two decades with a strong focus on mass campaigns against tuberculosis, malaria, yaws, syphilis, smallpox and leprosy.
1950
Discovery of antibiotics
The great era of discovery of antibiotics begins, and WHO begins advising countries on their responsible use.
1952
Inactivated polio vaccine
Jonas Salk develops the inactivated poliovirus vaccine (given by injection), paving the way for mass global campaigns facilitated by countries, WHO and other partners that have led to the near-eradication of polio.
1961
Attenuated live-virus polio vaccine
Albert Sabin develops the attenuated live-virus vaccine (given orally), paving the way for mass global campaigns facilitated by countries, WHO and other partners that have led to the near-eradication of polio.
1969
International Health Regulations
The World Health Assembly establishes the first International Health Regulations, which represent an agreement between WHO Member States to work together to prevent and respond to acute public health risks that have the potential to cross borders and threaten people worldwide.
1972
Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction
1974
Expanded Programme on Immunization
WHO founds the Expanded Programme on Immunization to bring life-saving vaccines to all the world's children.
1975
Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases
1977
First Essential Medicines List
The first Essential Medicines List is published. This list outlines the medicines that a basic health system needs. Each medicine is selected based on evidence for its safety, effectiveness and value for money.
1978
"Health for All" goal set
The International Conference on Primary Health Care, in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, sets the aspirational goal, "Health for All", laying the groundwork for WHO's call for universal health coverage.
1978
Global diarrhoeal diseases programme
1980: Smallpox eradication
Following an ambitious 12-year global vaccination campaign led by WHO, smallpox is eradicated.
1981
International Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes
1983: HIV discovered
The Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, is discovered. In 1987, the first antiretroviral medication to control HIV infection and prevent it from progressing to AIDS is licensed, prompting a shift in WHOs priorities.
1988: Global Polio Eradication Initiative
Countries of the world come together to call for the eradication of polio at the World Health Assembly at a time when the disease was paralysing more than 350 000 children every year in more than 125 endemic countries. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), is launched.
1994: Comprehensive definition of reproductive health
At the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo, Egypt, countries agree to the adoption of a comprehensive definition of reproductive health and a recognition of reproductive rights.
1995: Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy
The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy was launched by WHO and UNICEF to promote health and provide preventive and curative services for children under five in countries with more than 40 deaths per 1000 live births.
1998: Emergency contraception
WHO played a pioneering role in emergency contraception by confirming the effectiveness of levonorgestrel, which resulted in changes in regulations in countries of differing income levels and its inclusion in the list of essential medicines. Since 1998 these pills have been licensed in more than 100 countries.
1999: Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization
The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (now Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance) is established. The Alliance consists of major players in global immunization, including WHO,
1999: Global strategy for noncommunicable diseases
The first global strategy for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
2000: Millennium Development Goals
At the Millennium Summit in September 2000, the largest gathering of world leaders in history adopts the UN Millennium Declaration, committing nations to a new global partnership to reduce extreme poverty and setting out a series of time-bound targets, with a deadline of 2015.
2000: GOARN
The WHO Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) is established to detect and combat the international spread of outbreaks.
2001: UN Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS
The Twenty-sixth special session of the United Nations General Assembly adopts the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS as a matter of urgency to address the HIV/AIDS crisis worldwide as well as to secure a global commitment to enhancing coordination and intensification of national, regional and international efforts to combat it in a comprehensive manner.
2001: Global Fund
The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a new partnership and funding mechanism initially hosted by WHO, is created in collaboration with other UN agencies and major donors.
2003: "3 by 5" initiative
WHO launches the "3 by 5" initiative, which aims to bring treatment to 3 million people living with HIV by 2005 and lays the groundwork for reaching 13 million people infected with HIV with antiretroviral treatment by 2013.
2003: Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
The World Health Assembly unanimously adopts WHO's first global public health treaty, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which aims to reduce tobacco-related deaths and disease worldwide.
2004: UN Road Safety Collaboration
The UN Road Safety Collaboration is established. WHO and the World Bank launch the first ever world report on road traffic injury prevention.
2004: New Strategic Operations Centre for emergency response
WHO's Strategic Health Operations Centre is used for the first time to coordinate emergency response support following the Indian Ocean tsunami. The Centre is the nerve centre of global alert and response for health emergencies.
2005: International Health Regulations revised
The International Health Regulations are revised, giving countries clear and tested guidelines for reporting disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies to WHO, and triggering response systems to isolate and contain threats.
2006: Child mortality declines
The number of children who die before their fifth birthday declines below 10 million for the first time in recent history.
2006: Child Growth Standards
WHO Child Growth Standards are launched to help every child grow in an equitable way. These are unique tools that define malnutrition in children under 5 years of age.
2008: Heart disease and stroke
Heart disease and stroke emerge as the world's number one killers ̶ indicating a global shift from infectious diseases to noncommunicable diseases,
2009: New H1N1 virus
The world braces itself for the first influenza pandemic since 1968 with the emergence of the new H1N1 influenza virus. WHO works with collaborating centres and pharmaceutical industries to develop influenza vaccines in record time.
2010: Options for raising resources for health
WHO issues a menu of options for raising sufficient resources and removing financial barriers so that all people, especially those with limited resources to spend on health care, have access to essential health services.
2010: First rapid molecular test for detection of TB
The first rapid molecular test for the detection of TB is established after decades of using only sputum-smear microscopy. Sputum-smear microscopy had poor specificity and reliability. The new tests help diagnose TB more accurately and identify drug resistance earlier.
2011: Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework
The adoption of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework paves the way for equitable access to countermeasures during pandemics.
2012: NCD targets
For the first time, WHO Member States set global targets to prevent and control heart disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease and other diseases.
2012: Nutrition plan
The World Health Assembly adopts WHO's implementation plan on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition.
2013: Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan
The first global Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan is endorsed. More than 100 countries have used the Mental Health GAP Action Programme (mhGAP) for the integration of mental health at primary health care level since that time.
2014: Every Newborn Action Plan
The Every Newborn Action Plan is endorsed by the World Health Assembly. The Plan presents evidence-based solutions to prevent newborn deaths and stillbirths.
2014: Ebola outbreak in West Africa
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa 2014-2016 was the largest since the virus was first discovered in 1976.
2015: HIV treatment coverage
HIV treatment coverage expanded rapidly with well over 17 million people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy by the end of 2015.
2015: Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis
Cuba becomes the first country in the world to receive validation from WHO that it has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.
2015: Interruption of indigenous malaria transmission
The WHO European Region becomes the first Region in the world to achieve the interruption of indigenous malaria transmission.
2015: Child-friendly formulations of anti-TB medicines
The first ever child-friendly formulations of anti-TB medicines, which are water-dispersible tablets, are introduced.
2015: Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, all United Nations Member States adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It sets out 17 Goals, which include 169 targets.
2016: UN Declaration on antimicrobial resistance
The UN General Assembly adopts a political declaration on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and calls for the establishment of an ad-hoc inter-agency coordination group on antimicrobial resistance to provide practical guidance to ensure global action against AMR.
2016:
Progress towards polio-free certification in African Region
Treatment of neglected tropical diseases
Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health
Ebola outbreak in West Africa: progress
Zika assocation declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
2017: Antibiotic-resistant "priority pathogens"
WHO publishes its first ever list of antibiotic-resistant "priority pathogens" – a catalogue of 12 families of bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health.
2017: Partnership for Healthy Cities
2019: UN Declaration on universal health coverage
World leaders adopt a high-level United Nations Political Declaration on universal health coverage, the most comprehensive set of health commitments ever adopted at this level.
2020
Global outbreak of novel coronavirus declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
New SDG indicator on blood stream infections
First oral regimen for treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis
Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator
2021: Antiretroviral therapy
At the end of December 2021, 28.7 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy, up from 7.8 million in 2010. This meant that 75% of all people living with HIV were accessing treatment.
Malaria vaccine for children
Tuberculosis prevention and care
2022
Agreement for cooperation on the health of humans, animals, plants and the environment
Updated edition of "Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers"
2023: Looking back - and forwards
WHO’s 75th anniversary year is an opportunity to look back at public health successes that have improved quality of life during the last seven decades - and to look forward to motivate action to tackle the health challenges of today and tomorrow.
Year by Year themes of World Health Day
World Health Day 2025 Theme: Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures
World Health Day 2024 Theme: My health, my right
World Health Day 2023 Theme: Health For All
World Health Day 2022 Theme: Our Planet, Our Health
World Health Day 2021 Theme: Building a fairer, healthier world for everyone
World Health Day 2020 Theme: Support nurses and midwives
World Health Day 2019 Theme: Universal Health: Everyone, Everywhere
(Source WHO)
No comments:
Post a Comment