40th Anniversary of the World Health Organization
The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations declared at the first World Health Assembly in 1948: “WHO has a pioneering mission and a vital role. It will probably be the most universal international action organization that has ever existed in the history of the world.
One day, the Organization will embrace the entire universal city of free men in a powerful and effective network of protection against illness, suffering and death. The WHO then had 55 member countries, 27 of which were developing. Today, 166 member states represent virtually all territories on the planet.
The Organization fulfills the essential function of guiding and coordinating international health action that its constitution entrusts to it. The 166 Member States are unanimous in their desire to collaborate on the path to health for all, by applying a strategy based on four pillars:
- the political will to improve health in order to enable individuals to lead economically productive and socially enriching lives;
- appropriate, scientifically based, socially acceptable, economically affordable technology;
- intersectoral cooperation between the health sector and other socio-economic and cultural sectors;
- the participation of individuals and communities in the process of implementing directives, measures and means of health protection and promotion (...).
Equity and social justice require that health progress be made accessible to all. Health for all and everyone for health.
One day, the Organization will embrace the entire universal city of free men in a powerful and effective network of protection against illness, suffering and death. The WHO then had 55 member countries, 27 of which were developing. Today, 166 member states represent virtually all territories on the planet.
The Organization fulfills the essential function of guiding and coordinating international health action that its constitution entrusts to it. The 166 Member States are unanimous in their desire to collaborate on the path to health for all, by applying a strategy based on four pillars:
- the political will to improve health in order to enable individuals to lead economically productive and socially enriching lives;
- appropriate, scientifically based, socially acceptable, economically affordable technology;
- intersectoral cooperation between the health sector and other socio-economic and cultural sectors;
- the participation of individuals and communities in the process of implementing directives, measures and means of health protection and promotion (...).
Equity and social justice require that health progress be made accessible to all. Health for all and everyone for health.