World Health Organization

Meet the UN-agencies in UN City 03 October, 2013

Imre Hollo, Director Administration and Finance

Definition of health(From the Constitution of WHO -22 July, 1946)

• ”Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”

• ”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 belief, economic and social condition”

Specialized agency

• Globally– Governed by World Health Assembly with 194 Member

states– Funded from a mix of assessed and voluntary contributions

• Major Offices– Six regions – Africa, Americas, South-East Asia, Europe,

Eastern Mediterranean, and Western Pacific – Head quarters in Geneva

• Each region has a Regional Committee, which elects the Regional Director

• The European Region has 53 Member States

The European Health Challenges

• Growing burden of noncommunicable diseases, while the fight against communicable diseases not yet won

• Huge differences in health Status– Between and within countries

Opportunities

• Health 2020 – a new region-wide health policy– Addressing social determinants and inequities– By necessity it is multisectoral

• Being together in the UN-city provides new opportunities for collaboration and synergies