Health Organisation

A crucial part of understanding public health is learning about the organisations dedicated to preserving it. At the international level, the World Health Organisation (WHO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, takes the lead. Its primary objective is to achieve the highest possible level of health for all people across the globe. “Health,” as defined by the WHO, is not merely the absence of disease but a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being. The organisation works on a massive scale, focusing on areas like preventing and controlling epidemic diseases such as malaria, AIDS, and tuberculosis, promoting maternal and child health, and ensuring the safety of medicines and vaccines. It also plays a vital role in collecting health-related data from member countries and setting global standards for healthcare.

While the WHO operates internationally, India has its own structured public health system. At the national level, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the apex body that formulates policies and implements health programs. A key national program is the National Health Mission (NHM), which integrates the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). Its goals are to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates and provide universal access to equitable and affordable healthcare. This is supported by a three-tiered healthcare infrastructure in rural areas, comprising Sub-Centres, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), and Community Health Centres (CHCs), designed to bring basic medical services closer to villages.

Beyond government bodies, several voluntary agencies play a significant role in filling the gaps in public health services. Organisations like the Indian Red Cross Society provide critical disaster relief, run blood banks, and offer ambulance services. Similarly, the Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh works towards eradicating leprosy, while others like the Tuberculosis Association of India focus on specific diseases. In summary, maintaining public health is a collaborative effort. It requires the global oversight of bodies like the WHO, the national policy-making and implementation by government bodies, and the dedicated, grassroots work of voluntary organisations, all working in tandem to protect and improve community health.

Multiple choice type

Question 1. 

Select the most appropriate option in each case. Red Cross Day is celebrated on

1. May 8
2. June 23
3. September 17
4. November 21

Question 2. 

Select the most appropriate option in each case. WHO headquarters are located in

1. Paris
2. Berlin
3. Geneva
4. New York

Very short answer type

Question 1. 

Match the activities in Column I with the respective organisation in Column II (there can be one or more than one activity).

Column I (Activity)	Column II (Organisation)
(i) To extend relief to victims of the earthquake. (ii) To lay pharmaceutical standards for Important drugs. (iii) Arranging ambulances in emergencies.  (iv) To suggest quarantine measures. (v) Training of midwives. (vi) Procuring and supplying blood for transfusion.	(A) Red Cross (B) WHO

Ans:

Column I (Activity)	Organisation(s)
(i) To extend relief to victims of the earthquake.	(A) Red Cross (They specialize in emergency and disaster relief.)
(ii) To lay pharmaceutical standards for important drugs.	(B) WHO (The World Health Organization sets global health standards and guidelines.)
(iii) Arranging ambulances in emergencies.	(A) Red Cross (They are heavily involved in emergency medical services and transport.)
(iv) To suggest quarantine measures.	(B) WHO (They issue international guidelines and recommendations for disease control.)
(v) Training of midwives.	(B) WHO (They work to strengthen health systems, including professional training in developing nations.)
(vi) Procuring and supplying blood for transfusion.	(A) Red Cross (They are the single largest source of blood and blood products in many countries.)

Question 2. 

Where are the headquarters of WHO located? 

Ans:

The headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) are located in Geneva, Switzerland. 🇨🇭

Question 3. 

1.What do the following abbreviations stand for?  WHO 

2. What do the following abbreviations stand for? UNO

Ans:

Here is what each abbreviation stands for:

1. WHO stands for the World Health Organization. 
2. UNO stands for the United Nations Organization. 

Short answer type

Question 1. 

List any three health problems in India.

Ans:

India faces a variety of significant health challenges, which can be broadly categorized into communicable (infectious) and non-communicable (chronic) diseases.

Here are three major health problems in India:

1. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) : This group includes diseases like cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks, strokes), diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases. NCDs are now the leading cause of mortality in India, driven by changes in lifestyle, diet, tobacco use, and air pollution.
2. Maternal and Child Health Issues : Despite significant improvements, India still struggles with high rates of infant and maternal mortality. Issues include widespread malnutrition and anemia among women and children, lack of access to quality healthcare, and incomplete immunization coverage in remote areas.
3. Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) : While many infectious diseases are controlled, India still bears a high burden of diseases like Tuberculosis (TB), dengue, and malaria. Furthermore, the rapid rise of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)—where common bacteria become resistant to antibiotics—poses a critical threat to public health.

Question 2. 

Write the short note on: Functions of WHO 

Ans:

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) established in 1948. Its primary objective, as stated in its Constitution, is the “attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health.”

The functions of the WHO are broad and generally involve directing and coordinating international health work:

Key Functions of the WHO

1. Global Health Leadership and Coordination

The WHO acts as the directing and coordinating authority on international health matters. It brings member nations, partners, and experts together to address global health challenges and formulate strategies where joint action is needed.

2. Setting Norms and Standards

The organization establishes international health standards, guidelines, and norms. This includes setting standards for:

• Safety and Quality of medicines, vaccines, and food products.
• Diagnostic procedures and classification of diseases (e.g., the International Classification of Diseases, or ICD).
• Quarantine measures and international health regulations.

3. Monitoring Health Trends and Emergencies

The WHO collects, analyzes, and disseminates global health data to monitor health trends and disease outbreaks.

• It plays a central role in preparing for, detecting, and coordinating the global response to health emergencies like pandemics, epidemics (e.g., COVID-19, Ebola), and natural disasters.

4. Technical Support and Capacity Building

The WHO provides technical assistance and expertise to countries (especially developing nations) to help them strengthen their own national health services. This includes:

• Assisting in developing effective, evidence-based health policies.
• Providing support for training the health workforce.
• Working to expand universal health coverage (UHC).

5. Disease Control and Prevention

It champions global efforts to eradicate, eliminate, and control major communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like malaria, polio (which it helped to significantly reduce), HIV/AIDS, and cancer. The successful global eradication of Smallpox is one of the WHO’s landmark achievements.

Question 3. 

State the main functions of the Red Cross.

Ans:

The main functions of the Red Cross (specifically referring to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement) revolve around neutral humanitarian aid, protection, and advocacy.

Here are its primary objectives:

1. Providing Emergency and Disaster Relief : The Red Cross is the leading organization in providing immediate assistance to victims of natural disasters (like earthquakes, floods, and cyclones), conflicts, and other crises worldwide. This includes providing food, water, shelter, and medical supplies.
2. Health Services and Blood Banking : A crucial function is running extensive blood donation services, ensuring a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood products for transfusions. They also offer first aid training, run ambulance services, and provide community health services.
3. Promotion of Humanitarian Law : The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) promotes adherence to international humanitarian law (the Geneva Conventions), protecting the rights and dignity of victims of war, including wounded soldiers and prisoners of war.
4. Tracing Services and Reconnecting Families : During conflicts or disasters, they work to restore contact between separated family members through their tracing services.
5. Community Preparedness and Development: They work within communities to build resilience, train volunteers, and educate the public on disaster preparedness and basic health practices.

Question 4. 

State the main functions of the World Health Organisation.

Ans:

The main functions of the World Health Organization (WHO) are to direct and coordinate international health work and to provide technical assistance to countries.

Here are the key areas of their work:

1. Directing and Coordinating International Health :
   • The WHO acts as the leading global authority on health, setting the international health agenda, and coordinating global responses to health crises and emergencies.
   • They also monitor and assess global health trends.
2. Setting Standards and Guidelines :
   • They develop and promote international norms and standards for health, including essential medicines, vaccines, disease classification (like the ICD), and pharmaceutical quality.
   • They also develop evidence-based policy options for governments on health matters.
3. Providing Technical Assistance and Capacity Building :
   • The WHO provides technical support and assistance to member states to strengthen their national health systems, improve health infrastructure, and train health workers (e.g., in areas like primary healthcare and disease surveillance).
4. Promoting Public Health and Research :
   • They stimulate and conduct research in areas critical to health, such as infectious disease control, environmental health, and promoting healthy lifestyles to combat non-communicable diseases.
5. Disease Surveillance and Emergency Response :
   • They play a crucial role in the surveillance, early detection, and rapid containment of epidemics and pandemics (like COVID-19). They establish standards for quarantine measures and coordinate global disease control efforts.

Question 5. 

Distinguish between sewage and effluents.

Ans:

Feature	Sewage	Effluents
Source	Primarily Domestic/Residential and municipal sources (toilets, sinks, baths, laundries).	Industrial and Agricultural sources, but also includes wastewater discharged from a treatment plant.
Composition	Contains human and animal excreta, food waste, detergents, and other household debris. It is mostly organic and high in pathogens.	Highly variable; often contains industrial chemicals, heavy metals, solvents, heat, acids, or large volumes of agricultural runoff (pesticides, fertilizers). May be largely inorganic.
Meaning	Raw, untreated wastewater that flows in sewers.	Treated or untreated outflow from a factory, farm, or, critically, the discharge from a sewage treatment plant into a water body.
Example	Wastewater leaving a house or apartment complex and flowing to a treatment plant.	The cleaned (or partially cleaned) water flowing out of the final clarifier of a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) OR the wastewater discharge pipe of a manufacturing facility.

Long answer type

Describe the reasons for the formation of WHO.

Ans:

The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded in 1948 primarily as a response to the devastating global health crises and the recognized need for a strong, unified international body to coordinate health efforts after World War II.

Here are the main reasons for its formation:

1. Failure of Predecessor Organizations 

Existing international health bodies, such as the Health Organisation of the League of Nations and the Office International d’Hygiène Publique (OIHP), proved to be insufficiently funded and lacked the political authority or universal membership needed to address massive post-war health challenges effectively. A new, authoritative agency under the newly formed United Nations was needed.

2. Post-War Health Crises and Disease Spread 

The end of World War II left many regions ravaged by famine, mass migration, and destroyed infrastructure, which created ideal conditions for the rapid spread of infectious diseases. There was an urgent need to:

• Control widespread epidemics of diseases like cholera, plague, and tuberculosis.
• Coordinate medical aid and relief efforts across war-torn regions.

3. Recognition of Health as a Fundamental Human Right 

A key philosophical shift occurred, leading nations to recognize that the health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security. This principle established the need for a global organization dedicated to promoting this universal right.

4. Need for Standardization and Collaboration 

There was a recognized need for a single, centralized body to standardize medical terminology, drug names, and health statistics to allow for meaningful international comparison and collaboration on health research and policies.

In essence, the WHO was established to act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work, ensuring that global health challenges could be tackled collaboratively and systematically.