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WHO/EHA NEW EMERGENCY HEALTH TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR AFRICA

Directly or indirectly, health-related problems account for more than fifty per cent of the humanitarian assistance costs arising in emergencies of all types, natural or man-made.
Preserving life and health is both the objective and the yardstick of success in emergency management. This applies to large complex emergencies as well as to lesser-scale incidents. Health workers have to lead efforts against major epidemic outbreaks, just as they must collaborate in rescuing the victims of a car crash.
Such wide responsibilities call for equally wide-ranging capacities, and training is essential. Since 1989, WHO has been conducting training for Africa through the Centre of Addis Abeba. During this period, at least 2,000 Africans have undergone WHO-organized or co-sponsored courses. But the Region's needs are far from satisfied. In 1996, WHO and ODA-UK (now DFID) carried out a fact-finding mission in seven African countries; they concluded that training for emergency management must continue and be strengthened. The mission called for a cohesive, medium-term effort; training should be tailored to the needs of the most affected and vulnerable countries, and of all levels of personnel. Together with Ministries of Health and WHO offices, national NGOs should be actively involved. 
Following these recommendations and consultations with AFRO and EMRO offices, WHO/EHA has designed a new Emergency Health Training Programme for Africa (EHT). The Programme runs from 1997 to 2000, based in the Centre in Addis Abeba.
This initiative has been made possible through the constant support of donor countries, particularly the Government of Italy, which hit,,; supported the Centre since its inception, and the Government of the United Kingdom, which provided resources for starting the new programme.

Source: WHO Editorial by
Dr Fabrizio Bassani
Director Division of Emergency and Humanitarian Action

WHO'S EXECUTIVE BOARD ENDORSES HEALTH FOR ALL POLICY

During the 101st session of the WHO Executive Board (EB) in January 1998, a new Director-General was designated and a new global health policy, Health for All in the 21st century, discussed. The EB acknowledged the current transition of the Organization and the need to achieve institutional reforms which had been initiated. The EB endorses the Health for All policy with most of the specific health and health-related issues it promotes.
Many debates demonstrated a consensus with the global Health for All policy. The reasons for renewing Health for All, the vision and the four values of the new policy - human rights, ethics, equity and gender - were endorsed. Some quotations from various speakers provide a flavour of this support: "Health for All remained a universal rallying cry which should echo into the twenty-first century. Improving the Health for All strategy and targeting by decade would enhance coherence and ensure that activities were satisfactorily followed up at all points of the globe."

Dr Dossou-Togbe

"Poverty was obviously a fundamental obstacle to health and overall development, especially in the least advantaged countries and among the most vulnerable population groups, and that was where WHO must promote solidarity."

Mr Ngedup

"Q endorse) the emphasis placed in the (new global health policy) on the criteria of equity and social justice, ethics and the defende of the dignity of the individual."

Professor flico

"The document clearly set out the aims, goals, targets, objectives and functions to be achieved or developed and made plain the linkagebetween Health for All strategy, Alma-Ata Declaration and Health for All in the 21st century. ... (I welcome) the emphasis on ethics, in particular the beneficial effect it could have on socioeconomic development, the environment and the impact of scientific and technological advances."

Dr Abednego

WHO CELERRATES FIFTY YEARS OF HEALTH ACTION

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the World Health Organization, to which we are proud to belong as scientific Collaborating Centre. On this special occasion several celebratory events took place, one of which was the special Lecture of the Dr Brock Chisholm Memorial Trust, established in honour of the first Director-General and initial mentor of WHO. As the introductory remarks by the Trust's Administrator, Dr S. William Gunn,* give a vivid picture of the very beginnings of the Organization, we reproduce them here as a contribution of the Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters to WHO's 50th anniversary.
It is also worth noting that on this occasion a beautifully sculptured bust of Dr Chisholm, the work of the internationally known sculptor Domenico Mazzone of New York and donated by former UN UnderSecretary-General Dr Robert Muller, was unveiled. The special Lecturer was Dr Halfdan Mahler, Director-General Emeritus, whose inspiring leadership of WHO pervades the Organization, while the presence of the incoming Director-General, Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland,** marked the unbroken line of WHO service to the health of the world. Extracts from Dr Gunn's Introduction on the birth of WHO:
In 1945, full of hopes and ideals, governments came together in San Francisco to establish the United Nations. From the outset they all recognized the importance of health as , a factor of Post-war reconstruction and peace, and health was entered as Article 55 of the UN Charter. Accordingly, ECOSOC - the Economic and Social Council of the UN - convened a "Technical Preparatory Committee" to draft proposals for an International Conference to discuss the formation of an organization for Health.
Dr Chisholm, then Deputy Minister of Health of Canada, was one of the 16 members of that Technical Preparatory Committee - the embryo of the future WHO.
Bom in Oakville, Ontario, Brock Chisholm received his M.D. degree from the University of Toronto. As family physician and psychiatrist he was keenly interested in human relations, and was special lecturer in social sciences at the University of Toronto when the Second World War broke out.
Already in the First World War he had voluntarily joined the Army, winning the Military Cross and Bar for courage on the battlefront. In the Second World War he again joined the Army as a volunteer. He became Director of Personnel Selection in 1941, and in 1942 was named Director General of Medical Services, with the Rank of MajorGeneral.
From high military duties he was called to higher civil service in 1944 as Deputy Minister of National Health, a post he held till 1946, when his international career began.
On the Technical Preparatory Committee Dr Chisholm was elected Rapporteur, and Chairman of the Drafting Sub-Committee. In a surprisingly record time of only 19 days the Committee prepared a draft setting forth the ideals, the mechanism and virtually the constitution of a world-wide health organization.
Dr Chisholm's personality and experience shine in the minutes of those earliest meetings, and it is not an exaggeration to say that the very name of the organization is due to him.
The official records state: "Dr Chisholm thought that the first thing for the committee to do would be to select a title for the future organization. He proposed "World - or Universal - Health Organization", to show that, unlike other bodies, the organization would be even more than international." Adopted. When things got off the point he "... remarked that the Committee seems to be losing sight of the urgency of the present-day problems ... the duty of this Committee was clear. This was a unique opportunity for the members to escape factionalism, to fulfil international obligations, and to plan an ideal organization for the health of the world."
The interpretation of "Health" was equally enlightened and broad. The preamble to the Constitution of WHO states: Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The objective of the organization is laid down: it shall be the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health (Article 1).
In the name of the Technical Preparatory Committee, Dr Chisholm presented the report to the United Nations Assembly. An International Health Conference was proposed, and an Interim Commission was called upon to assure continuity until the Constitution was ratified. The International Health Conference met in New York in June and July 1946. Delegations were present from all 51 members of the United Nations. As Rapporteur, Dr Chisholm presented the report of his Committee. With minor modifications all of the proposals were accepted and states apposed their signatures.
Canada was one of the 18 countries chosen to designate a person to make up the Interim Commission. Her choice was obvious. Thus constituted, the Interim Commission met immediately. Dr Chisholm was elected Executive Secretary at the first session.
Housed at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the Commission undertook much health work that could not await the formal inauguration of the Organization, and for all intents and purposes it was the acting international health body. Those years were of utmost importance to the Organization, when planning, improvisation, field services, and trial and error proved very beneficial when the first World Health Assembly met in 1948.
ne World Health Assembly determines the policies of the Organization and is its ultimate authority. As Executive Secretary of the Interim Commission, it again became Dr Chisholm's task to present the report of the Commission. Policies and programs were discussed at length, and Dr Chisholm was elected to guide the World Health Organization as its first Director-General.
Dr Chisholm held that post until 1953, and his services and achievements can best be summarized in the words of his successor, Dr Marcolino Candau, who had this to say on taking over the torch: "The name Chisholm means far more than just that of the first Director-General of WHO. It is a name that has become identified during the years with the basic ideals of the organization: infinite respect for the dignity of man, wherever and under whatever conditions he lives; clear and serene vision of the forces which will decide his fate; and unbroken determination to devote every day's energy and work towards the creation of a peaceful world community in which the material spiritual and cultural progress achieved by each nation will benefit all."
Dr Chisholm died in 1971. He left a tremendous scientific and humanitarian legacy: the World Health Organization, of which all nations are proud today. Fifty years later his imprint continues unabated, not only of the technical aspects of medicine but also - and perhaps especially - on the human, social and ethical aspects of health.