Ch-18: Health Organisations
1. What are the two International Bodies concerned with people’s health?
The two most important International Bodies concerned with people’s health are as follows:
Red Cross
WHO (World Health Organisation)
2. What is Red Cross? When was it founded? What is its function?
The famous Red Cross is a national as well as an International agency which is strictly
concerned with people’s health.
It was founded in the year 1864.
Its function is to prevent and remove human sufferings, especially during the times
of war.
3. What are the seven major activities that Red Cross is mostly engaged with?
Red Cross is mostly engaged in the following seven activities:-
To extend relief to the victims to any calamities – Fire, Flood, Famine, Earthquake etc.
To procure and supply blood to all the needy victims of war or any other calamities.
To extend all possible first-aid treatments in any accidents.
To educate people to prevent accidents.
To arrange for ambulances for any emergencies.
To look after maternal and child welfare centres.
Recently, the Indian Red Cross Society has started to train midwives.
4. When is the World Red Cross Day celebrated?
The World Red Cross Day is celebrated on the 8th of May.
5. “It is legally wrong for local hospitals, ambulances, doctors, and nurses to use the Red Cross
emblem.” – Why?
It is common for local hospitals, ambulances, doctors, etc to use the Red Cross emblem for
quick identification but, it is legally wrong to use it if they are not a part of the Red Cross
Society. Only those who are a part of the Red Cross Society units are permitted to use it.
6. What is WHO? When was it established?
WHO (World Health Organisation) is a specialized agency of the United Nations Organisation
(UNO). It is an International body which looks after the health problems faced by people
around the world. It is particularly for the field of research on the causes of diseases and how
to cure them.
It was established in the year 1948.
7. What is the reason behind the formation of WHO?
UNO were focused on the need for an international body to look after the health problems
faced by the people around the world. This was particularly felt in the field of scientific
research on the causes of diseases and the ways to cure them. Their combined efforts formed
the now one of the most important International bodies that are concerned with people’s
health, WHO (World Health Organisation).
8. How many regional offices does WHO have around the world? Name a state in India which has
WHO’s regional office.
There are six regional offices present around the world.
India has established a regional office of WHO in New Delhi, India.
9. Where is WHO’s headquarters located?
WHO’s headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
10. Write the main activities of WHO.
The main activities of WHO are as follows:
To collect and supply information about the occurrence of diseases of epidemic in
nature. E.g. Cholera, Plaque, etc.
To promote and support research on diseases.
To supply information about the latest development on the use of vaccines.
To suggest quarantine measures to prevent spread of diseases.
To lay pharmaceutical measures for the important drugs.
To organize campaigns to prevent epidemic (e.g. Plaque) and endemic diseases (e.g.
Yellow fever).
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