THE WH

PAGES

HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS

WHO's Constitution states that "the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political, economic or social condition." On two separate occasions, in 1970 and 1977, the World Health Assembly has proclaimed that "health is a human right", and the same affirmation was made by the International Conference on Primary Health Care, held in 1978 in Alma-Ata under the joint auspices of WHO and UNICEF.> 
The 50th anniversary of the entry into force of WHO's Constitution coincides with the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being is enshrined in Article 25 of the Declaration. It is fitting that the two anniversaries will be commemorated in a combined, integrated manner in 1998 by WHO, and that "health as a human right" is one of the 10 themes to be emphasized during WHO's 50th anniversary events.
The Task Force on Health in Development, established pursuant to a resolution adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1992, was mandated to recommend appropriate arrangements for the protection of basic health as a human right and, in consultation with all partners concerned, to initiate a process of education and consensus-building to ensure that health status is protected in the development process. WHO identifies human rights and the closely related domain of ethics as over-arching principles that should be taken into account in all relevant WHO programmes and activities.Steps are now being taken to intensify WHO's role in the human rights sector, in conjunction with its many governmental and nongovernmental partners.* This newly invigorated approach by WHO to the field of human rights should enable the Organization to give clear recognition to an infrequently cited paragraph of the Preamble to the Constitution, which proclaims that "the health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security.
(Source: The World Health Report)

* IAHM: Friends of the MBC and all concerned citizens will be pleased to learn that the International Association for Humanitarian Medicine has been established, particularly in response to the above-mentioned needs. It is spearheaded by an international group of caring professionals, including leaders in the Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters - WHO Collaborating Centre.

THE ORGANS OF WHO

Since the designation of the MBC as a WHO Collaborating Centre, we have noted an increasing interest among its members in the functioning of the World Health Organization, as we have also seen an increasing interest of the WHO in the work of the MBC. We give below briefly the three main functional bodies of the Organization.
(Source: The World Health Report 1998)
According to Article 9 of WHO's Constitution, the work of the Organization shall be carried out by the World Health Assembly, the Executive Board and the Secretariat.

The World Health Assembly

The Assembly is composed of delegates representing Members, and meets once a year in regular session at the Palais des Nations, Geneva.
The length of its sessions has been considerably reduced since the early days of WHO, and now ranges between six and nine days. The functions of the Assembly include: determining the policies of the Organization; the naming of Members entitled the designate a person to serve on the Executive Board; and appointing the Director-General. Each Assembly elects a President and five Vice-presidents, who hold office until their successors are elected. The work of the Assembly is conducted by two main Committees: Committee A to deal predominantly with programme and budget matters, and Committee B to deal predominantly with administrative, financial and legal matters. Decisions are taken through the adoption of resolutions, which may be tabled by any Member: there must be a two-thirds majority of the Members present and voting for important questions such as the adoption of conventions or agreements and fixing the amount of the effective working budget. Decisions on other questions require a simple majority.

The Executive Board

The first Executive Board comprised 18 Members - the number has now increased to 32, to reflect the growing number of Members since 1948. The World Health Assembly, taking into account an equitable geographical distribution, elects the Members entitled to designate a person technically qualified in the field of health to serve on the Board; Members are elected for three years. The Board elects its Chairman, who serves for one year, and meets twice a year, traditionally at WHO headquarters in Geneva. Its functions include:giving effect to the decisions and policies of the World Health Assembly; acting as its executive organ; and taking emergency measures - for example, to combat epidemics.

The Secretariat

The Secretariat comprises the Director-General and such technical and administrative staff as the Organization may require. The paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is to ensure that the efficiency, integrity and internationally representative character of the Secretariat is maintained at the highest level, with due regard being paid to the importance of recruiting staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

WHO'S WORLD HEALTH REPORT 1998

LIFE IN THE 21ST CENTURY: A VISION FOR ALL

What will life be like in the 21st century? Will the world continue to grow healthier, with ever more diseases conquered by scientific advances, and life expectancy extending even longer? Or will new diseases and failing drugs cancel out these gains? If populations live longer, will these extra years be healthy and productive or merely an extended sentence of suffering? 
Will continuing population growth finally stifle the planet's life, depleting finite resources, polluting beyond repair, and making megacities and urban slums the home for more and more? Or will better family planning options - and mounting deaths from AIDS - reverse recent trends?
Will we conquer malnutrition, obesity, drug abuse, poverty, depression, and the common cold? Will we eradicate polio, leprosy, measles and other ancient foes? Will deaths from heart disease and cancer finally begin to decline? And when science surely delivers spectacular new therapeutic tools, who will be able to afford them? Will the gaps between the health of rich and poor grow ever wider? These are some of the many questions addressed in The World Health Report 1998. Issued as the World Health Organization marks its 50th anniversary, the report takes an expert look at health trends over the past five decades, assesses the current global situation, and predicts how health conditions, diseases, and the tools for managing them will evolve up to the year 2025. Using the latest data gathered and validated by WHO, the report paints a picture of a world poised to achieve unprecedented good health - if the lessons learned during recent decades are understood and heeded.
A thought-provoking and action-oriented book that we recommend highly.

HEALTH IMPACT OF THE POLLUTING HAZE OF FOREST FIRES

In 1997 forest fires and the resulting haze affected large parts of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. WHO support went to the Ministries of Health to assess the health aspects of the environmental emergency resulting from widespread forest fires. The economic crisis made it difficult for a number of governments to mobilize in-country the scientific, medical and administrative resources required. Various requests for assistance in combating the effects of the haze disaster expressed by local and national authorities were endorsed and conveyed to donors. Following the needs identified, WHO's emergency assistance to haze-affected countries comprised the provision of material and technical support for the treatment of casualities. Drugs and dust masks were provided to a number of countries by the Regional Office of south-east Asia, as well as doctors specialized in respiratory tract diseases. Briefing materials were prepared to respond to the requests of donors and other UN agencies for information on the health effects of the haze. Guidelines for the management of smoke disasters have been requested by many doctors in the region. WHO received a grant of US$ 200 000 from Japan, which will be used for a study to develop such guidelines. It will be an integral part of an environmental programme in headquarters and in the regions. These guidelines should come out soon.
WHO support to Indonesia, the worst affected country, ranged from the accelerated purchase of equipment to the identification and secondment of experts. With US$ 50 000 from the Regional Director's development Fund and US$ 30 000 from the Directorate General Fund, WHO provided the Indonesian Ministry of Health with particle samplers, to measure the harmful particles in the haze. Persons were trained in their use and in the processing of the data obtained. Furthermore, a short-term consultant assessed the health needs caused by the pollutant-filled haze and participated in the World Meteorological Organisations's, (WMO) haze disaster response. Local expertise was also provided through the regional as well as the country offices. Technical advice on the haze and its impact on health was given to the MoH, other UN agencies, NG0s, diplomatic missions and private companies. WHO functioned as a liaison between the local health authorities and the international community, especially for interaction between the government and the UN Disaster Coordination Team. A study was initiated, funded by WHO, conducted by the National Institute qf Health Research and Development on the health effects of the haze from forest fires.
From WHO Report EHA/98.2.

Note: On this occasion, as in other relevant emergencies, the MBC put its expertise at the disposal of WHO.