Global Health

Question 1

What is the WHO?

Answer 1

Specialized agency of the UN governed by member states via the world health assembly

Question 2

The SARS pandemic

Answer 2

started in Guandong, China November 2002. China hid the disease as it spread locally. Informs WHO in February 2003

Question 3

What are the main Post-SARS WHO reforms?

Answer 3

Delegated greater authority to the WHO
1). Authorized WHO to act on non state information sources
2). WHO can declare public health emergency
3). Authority to name and shame non complying nations

Question 4

What is the history of the WHO?

Answer 4

1948 creation of WHO. Subsumes the 1907 Office International d’Hygiene Public (OIHPP) and 1926 League of Nations Health Organization (LNHO)

Question 5

What is the WHO’s mandate?

Answer 5

The attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health

Question 6

How does the WHO address pandemics?

Answer 6

1). Adopt rules that prescribe behaviour
2). Monitor infections disease outbreaks
3). Provide assistance and capacity building

Question 7

WHO response to SARS

Answer 7

March 12 WHO issues global alert of outbreak, March 15 WHO names illness SARS, July 2003 WHO declares global outbreak over