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World
Health
Organization at a glance
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History |
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In the
World:
WHO is a
specialized agency of the United Nations. Founded in 1948, it
works for the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible
level of health. Its constitution came into force on 7 April
1948, which is celebrated every year as the World health Day.
In
I.R.Iran:
The collaboration between WHO and I.R.Iran started in 1955
through an agreement of cooperation. However, the country office
has been operational since 1984. Its main counterpart in Iran is
the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, and the primary
objective of this partnership is to provide technical support to
the country, within the overall scope of WHO’s global, regional
and country priorities. |
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Definition and scope of health |
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Health is a
state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
WHO recognizes that the health of all peoples is fundamental to
the attainment of peace and security and is dependent upon
fullest cooperation of individuals and states. The constitution
of WHO 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
belief, economic or social condition”.
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The six core functions |
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3
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1
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Providing
leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in
partnerships where joint action is needed |
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Shaping the
research agenda and stimulating the generation, translation and
dissemination of valuable knowledge |
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3 |
Setting
norms and standards and promoting and monitoring their
implementation |
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Articulating ethical and evidence-based policy options |
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5 |
Providing
technical support, catalyzing change, and building sustainable
institutional capacity |
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6 |
Monitoring
the health situation and assessing health needs |
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The four global priorities |
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4
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1 |
Enhancing
global health security |
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Preventing
chronic and promoting healthy lifestyle |
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3 |
Achieving
the Millennium Developments Goals |
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Improving
health care and fairer access to health systems |
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Strategic directions of work in Iran (2010-2014)
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5
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Improving
Health Equity and Social Determinants |
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Strengthening Primary Health Care |
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3 |
Achieving
universal coverage and improving equity in health care financing |
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4 |
Enhancing
capacities for improving leadership and governance |
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Strengthening health security |
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Managing
the demographic and the epidemiological transition |
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Current areas of work in Iran |
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6
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Development
of Health Policy and Health Systems
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Social
Determinants of Health |
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Environmental Health |
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HIV/AIDS
and Communicable Diseases |
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Health
Protection and Promotion |
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Emergency
and Humanitarian Action |
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Advocacy
and Knowledge Management |
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Challenges
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7
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Risk of compromising the effectiveness of the welfare system due
to policies influencing the country’s socio-economical status
and need of innovation according to demographic and
epidemiological transition |
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Regional disparities in certain critical health indicators such
as under five mortality and maternal mortality rates |
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Risk of importation of certain communicable diseases from
neighboring countries that have been controlled in Iran |
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Coping with harmful effects of the epidemiological transition
and rapid urbanization |
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Need to upgrade the PHC system to meet the expectations and
needs of the communities in view of their evolving social and
economic situation |
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Reform of health care financing to make it more equitable and
efficient, improving the leadership and governance function of
the health sector |
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Need to develop links and lines of communications with countries
in the region and in the rest of the world |
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Promoting international human rights standards and principles
and advocating for human rights as a common UN value in dialogue
and interactions with national actors |
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More information could be available
through the following URLs,
www.who.int the official website of WHO
headquarter,
www.emro.who.int the website from the WHO
Regional Office, and
www.whoiran.org or
www.emro.who.int/iran as the links for website
of WHO Country Office in Iran.
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