Health Organisations — ICSE Class 9 Biology Important Questions

Answer: (b) Geneva, Switzerland.

WHO, a specialised agency of the United Nations, has its headquarters at Geneva in Switzerland.

Answer: (b) 7th April.

WHO was established on 7 April 1948, so 7th April is celebrated as World Health Day. (1st December is World AIDS Day and 5th June is World Environment Day.)

Answer: (b) Henri Dunant.

The International Red Cross was founded by Jean Henri Dunant of Switzerland, who was moved by the suffering of wounded soldiers in war.

Answer: (c) Smallpox.

Through a worldwide vaccination programme led by WHO, smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980. Malaria, tuberculosis and dengue still occur and are being controlled, not eradicated.

Answer: (a) WHO is indeed a specialised agency of the UN, and this is because it works internationally on health and disease control for member nations; R correctly explains A.

(i) WHO stands for the World Health Organisation.

(ii) It was established in the year 1948 (on 7 April 1948), as a specialised agency of the United Nations.

Two functions of the Red Cross:

1. It provides relief, medical aid and nursing to people affected by wars, accidents and natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes.

2. It runs blood banks (collecting and supplying blood) and organises first-aid training and awareness programmes for the public.

Important functions of WHO:

1. It works to prevent and control epidemic and endemic diseases, and has helped eradicate diseases like smallpox.

2. It promotes and supports immunisation (vaccination) programmes across the world.

3. It sets international standards for drugs, vaccines and food quality.

4. It provides medical aid, trained personnel and expert advice to member countries, especially during emergencies.

5. It collects and shares health information and statistics among nations.

6. It promotes research, training of health workers, and public health education (clean water, sanitation, nutrition).

Through these functions WHO helps all people attain the highest possible level of health.

Health organisations such as WHO play a key role in controlling communicable diseases in the following ways:

1. Immunisation programmes: They organise mass vaccination drives (e.g. against polio, measles, tuberculosis) that protect large populations and can even eradicate a disease, as happened with smallpox.

2. Surveillance and quick response: They monitor outbreaks worldwide, warn member countries, and rush medicines, vaccines and experts to affected areas to check the spread.

3. Setting standards and guidelines: They lay down standards for safe drinking water, sanitation, and quality of drugs and vaccines, which cut down the sources of infection.

4. Health education: They spread awareness about hygiene, prevention and treatment, helping people avoid infection.

Through coordinated international effort, WHO greatly reduces the incidence of communicable diseases.

When an infectious disease spreads across several countries (an epidemic/pandemic), WHO would respond in the following ways:

1. Declare an alert and coordinate: WHO would issue a health alert, share information about the disease, its symptoms and spread with all member nations, and coordinate a common plan so countries act together.

2. Provide expertise and material aid: It would send teams of experts, medicines, testing kits, protective equipment and, when available, vaccines to the worst-affected regions.

3. Promote research and guidelines: It would encourage and fund research to develop diagnostic tests, treatments and vaccines, and issue guidelines on prevention (isolation, hygiene, travel advice) to limit the spread.

By acting as a central international agency, WHO ensures a fast, coordinated and science-based response that no single country could manage alone.

(a) Full form and year: WHO stands for the World Health Organisation. It was established on 7 April 1948 as a specialised agency of the United Nations. Its founding day is observed as World Health Day.

(b) Headquarters: The headquarters of WHO is at Geneva, Switzerland. It also has regional offices in different parts of the world.

(c) Aim: Its main aim is the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health, so that everyone can lead a socially and economically productive life.

(d) Four functions:

1. To prevent and control epidemic and endemic diseases and to work for their eradication (e.g. smallpox).

2. To promote immunisation and provide vaccines, medicines and expert help to member countries.

3. To set international standards for drugs, vaccines, food and drinking water.

4. To collect and share health information, promote research and train health workers.

Through these efforts WHO improves world health and fights disease globally.

Origin: The International Red Cross was founded by Jean Henri Dunant of Switzerland in the 19th century. Deeply moved by the suffering of wounded soldiers left uncared for on a battlefield, he started an organisation to give them relief and medical aid. It has since become a worldwide humanitarian body.

Emblem: Its symbol is a red cross on a white background (the reverse of the Swiss flag, honouring its country of origin). In some countries a red crescent is used instead. The emblem marks its workers, vehicles and hospitals as neutral and protected.

Main functions:

1. It provides relief, medical care and nursing to people wounded in wars and to victims of natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and famines.

2. It runs blood banks — collecting, storing and supplying blood for the needy.

3. It gives first-aid training and organises health and hygiene awareness programmes.

4. It helps trace and reunite family members separated during wars or disasters.

Thus the Red Cross serves humanity in times of crisis without any discrimination.

(i) WHO was founded on 7 April 1948, so 7th April is observed every year as World Health Day to spread health awareness.

(ii) WHO is a specialised agency of the United Nations Organisation (UNO).

(iii) The theme 'Health for All' reflects WHO's aim — the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health, so that every person can lead a healthy and productive life.

(iv) WHO helped to eradicate smallpox worldwide (declared eradicated in 1980).