JULY-SEPTEMBER 2008 QNT 73
from the Association of Former WHO Staff Tel :+4122 791 31 03 and 31 92
Office 4141, WHO, CH- 1211 Geneva, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.who.int/formerstaff
Twentieth anniversary of WHO: at the World Health Assembly the Regions were represented by young girls in national costume who offered a flower to each delegate: also shown are Drs Can- dau and Dorolle, Director-General and Deputy Director-General.
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The Directors-Generals since the beginnings of WHO
Dr Brock Chisholm (1948-1953) Dr Marcolino Candau (1953-1973) Dr Halfdan Mahler (1973-1988)
Dr Hiroshi Nakajima (1988-1998) Dr Gro Harlem Bruntland ( 1998-2003)
Dr LEE Jong-wook (2003-2005) Dr Margaret Chan (2006 -
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CONTENTS EDITORIAL Pages n the occasion of WHO's 60th anniversary, Souvenir 20th anniv. WHO 1 this issue of QNT – No. 73 – is mainly de- voted to the Organization's early days: a Editorial opposite 1976 interview with Dr Pierre Dorolle, for- Dr Martha Eliot 4 mer Deputy Director-General; an article by Dr Jo Dr Dorolle 5, 6 Asvall, former Director of the Regional Office for Dr Asvall 7, 8 Europe; the speech given by Dr Halfdan Mahler, Dr Gutteridge 9, 10 former Director-General, to the last World Health Dr Mahler 11,12, 13 Assembly; a letter from Dr Frank Gutteridge, Legal Adviser from WHO's earliest days and finally an ar- Poem on the sixtieth 14 Readers’Corner; 15 ticle on Dr Martha Eliot, the only woman among the New members founders of WHO. Travels :Albania 16 These articles all relate events and impressions which In memoriam 17, 18 also reflect WHO's first steps and evolution On the lighter side 19 We would welcome articles from you, and particu- Publication; new charges 20 larly from our former colleagues in the regions, re- Announcements 21 garding your memories of WHO and your « WHO ------lives ». Such articles would be welcome not only this year but at any time in the future. Editorial Team Editing & layout: David Cohen The Committee has decided to make our annual re- ception in December a special event this year to Editorial Board : th Yves Beigbeder, celebrate the 60 anniversary: there will be talks, Jean-Jacques Guilbert, music, etc. Jean-Paul Menu, Between now and then the elections will have taken Carole Modis, place, and there will be a new Executive Committee. Dev Ray, Rosemary Villars. Translation, articles: As has been the case for the last four years, free flu' all the editorial board; vaccination will be organized at WHO HQ this au- tumn for the retirees living in and around Geneva. ------We pay special tribute This issue will have reached you a little late. This is to the Printing, Distribution, because new administrative procedures and budget- and mailing Services. ary restrictions at WHO mean that the Association ------must now assume the production costs; we shall keep The opinions expressed you informed of any new development. in this newsletter are However, we shall now be obliged to send the QNT those of the authors to paid-up members only, i.e. either life members or and not necessarily annual members who have paid their dues for the current year. So we strongly recommend that those those of the editor of you who have not yet become members, or who or editorial board. have not yet paid their contribution, do so as soon as ------possible if they want to continue receiving the news- Send your contributions to : letter. David Cohen: [email protected] Many thanks.
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Dr Martha Eliot, ADG 1949-1951, the only woman among the Founders of WHO
The only woman to sign the founding document of the World Health Organiza- tion was Dr Martha May Eliot (April 7, 1891-February 14, 1978). Born in Dor- chester, Massachusetts, Eliot graduated from Radcliffe College and, after be- ing denied entrance to Harvard Medical School because it did not admit women, she received medical degrees from Johns Hopkins. As early Protection of Children in1942. the privilege of working with as her se- her have been filled over and Participating in UNRAA, UNI- cond year over again with a sense of CEF and in WHO as a US of medical deep admiration for her inde- delegate, she was influential school, Dr. Eliot was interes- fatigable energy and her in bringing about the estab- ted in public health. Her first boundless enthusiasm. From lishment, at the First World important research—commu- the very beginning Dr Eliot Health Assembly, of maternal nity studies of rickets in New has been and, although she is and child health work as a Haven, Connecticut, and leaving us now, she will con- priority programme for WHO. Puerto Rico--explored issues tinue to be a source of real She joined WHO in 1949 as at the heart of social medic- inspiration to all of us” Assistant Director-General, ine. During the next twenty years, Department of Operations. Dr Eliot returned to WHO and For many years she was ac- When she resigned her posi- UNICEF as a consultant; she tive in international health tion as ADG in 1951 (to be served for more than thirty work. She was a member of replaced by Dr Marcolino years as chief of the US Chil- a group of experts appointed Candau) Dr Chisholm paid dren’s Bureau and then as by the Health Organization of her tribute: Professor of Maternal and the League of Nations to “During the two years that Dr Child Health at Harvard Uni- study methods of assessing Eliot has been with WHO she versity's School of Public the state of nutrition in infants has given herself unstintingly Health. Dr. Eliot's service to and adolescents. During and unreservedly to the work public health earned her World War II Eliot was sent to of helping to bring about bet- many honours, created new England to study the impact ter health for the peoples of opportunities for generation of defense activities on chil- the world. To this great cause of women physicians to fol- dren in Britain, observing the she has brought a singleness low, and contributed to the evacuation of city children to of purpose and a whole- cause of health for all in par- stay with families living in the hearted devotion, which are ticular for the world’s mothers countryside and publishing unique. Those of us who and children. her report Civil Defense know her best and have had Measures for the
Martha Eliot –centre- at WHO (then in the Palais des Nations)
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RECOLLECTIONS: DR PIERRE DOROLLE
Dr Pierre Dorolle was Deputy Director-General of WHO from 1950 to 1973. As part of an early WHO Library programme to record recollections of prominent figures in international health, he talked with Mrs Erica Campanella and Dr Norman Howard-Jones on 21 September 1976. In the interview, Dorolle spoke about his participation in international health activities with the League of Na- tions between 1937 and 1950. In particular he refers here to the League at its Eastern Bureau, Singapore and the Intergovernmental Conference of Far-Eastern Countries on Rural Hygiene, Bandung, Indonesia, in 1937. “The [Eastern] Bureau played Bacteriologists from the Pas- anything by post or by air as it a very important role in re- teur Institute in Hanoi went would have cost far too much. ceiving and distributing epi- immediately to Hainan where demiological information. It they found that they were Everything they did de- also played the role of epide- simply cases of viral hepatitis. manded travel. For example, miological surveyor when There were cases with fever travel of a member of the necessary. In particular, I re- and jaun- League secretariat to Indone- member a request that the dice, but in sia took three weeks, and the Bureau had addressed at the the trans- same for return!” end of 1936 to Indochina be- mission from cause of its proximity to the Hainan the “The Intergovernmental Con- Chinese island of Hainan words yellow ference of Far-Eastern Coun- where – through a series of and fever tries on Rural Hygiene] was in translations from Chinese into were put fact the forerunner of what English and then from English together, has been discussed these into French – we understood and created an emergency for last few years at WHO on the that there had been a number the Bureau.” subject of the organi- zation of suspected cases of yellow of primary health care and Everything had to be pre- integrated health services – fever. It was evidently ex- pared long in advance. tremely serious information the model to adopt for health that which greatly concerned The League of Nations did care in isolated rural areas…. Geneva and Singapore, and only a few things, but those It is extremely unfor- tunate they requested the French to they did extremely carefully that the Conference took act as soon as possible. That and completely. “In those place just before a great was easy, given the proximity days, the majority of people world catastrophe [World War of Hanoi to Hainan. travelled by boat, as did the II], so that its important con- post. We would never send clusions were lost.”
From 1937-1940, Dr Dorolle worked for the League of Nations in China as chief expert for technical cooperation. In China, the League of Na- Road…. We had established Surgeon General responded tions had a number of specific there an anti-malaria project to this request by creating a programmes. One of them to protect workers on the road team headed by Dr Lewis was an anti-malaria cam- and also the many people Williams…. Well, as you paign, which became of vital who had to travel on the road. know, the United States was importance to China after its It also introduced something not a member of the League encirclement by the Japa- that was a pioneer effort, of Nations. It asked the nese, who had cut all the namely collaboration between League for its agreement to roads to the exterior. There a League of Nations team provide American bilateral aid was only the little mountain and a bilateral aid team. to China. It was the world railway and road towards China had requested aid di- upside down compared with French Indochina, which was rectly from the United States what you see today. later called the Burma in the field of malaria. The US
Like today’s United Nations peacekeepers, League officials often had dangerous working conditions.
Association of Former WHO Staff Page 5 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2008 QNT 73 We lived under war condi- came from Alma Ata, and is interesting that, at the tions. I had a car, and it was three quarters of our supply United Nations Conference on often machine-gunned by little was used up on the long jour- International Organizations Japanese planes…. All our ney. We lived in very difficult San Francisco, in 1946, China travel was difficult and dan- conditions, but once again I’m was one of the two countries gerous. We had to carry our certain that we provided the that requested the creation of own petrol. At one time, I be- basis for the proposal to cre- an international specialised lieve that the petrol for China ate a specialised health insti- health organization; [Brazil tution in the United Nations. It was the other country].
Howard-Jones asks about Dorolle’s role on joining WHO in 1950 as Deputy Director- General.
When I arrived in WHO, [in mentary to him – with French into a theoretician. We are all 1950] our Director-General language and also field ex- inevitably theoreticians. It’s a had no personal experience perience in the Far East. I good thing, and it’s fortunate of field programmes but a found Dr Chisholm a very that there were constant re- very wide national experi- agreeable man with a very newals through people com- ence. One of the reasons that broad outlook. There were all ing in who brought a vast field I found myself by chance be- sorts of little internal problems experience with them. I think coming Deputy Director- to settle. The increase of of people like Dr Emilio Pam- General is because he found WHO was beginning at that pana and Dr Lucien Bernard. himself face-to-face with moment, and little by little I someone who was comple- was able to develop myself
Dr Dorolle is an example of some of the dedicated, courageous, and exacting individuals who found- ed and developed WHO. Many former WHO staff remember him with fondness and abiding respect.
A Reminder ------It has been a great pleasure to meet many of you at the Global Health Histories lunchtime seminars series. There are just three more before the end of 2008. Place: WHO Library Meeting Room Time: 12:30pm
2 October 2008: The fruits of a new internationalism: South Asian governments, the WHO and global smallpox eradication Speaker: Dr. Sanjoy Bhattacharya, The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL, UK 20 November 2008: The rise of the global health consultant: The life and times of Brian Abel-Smith (1926-1996) Speaker: Dr. Sally Sheard, Liverpool University, UK 4 December 2008: Antiretroviral Therapy in Zambia: Colours, ‘Spoiling’, ‘Talk’ and the Meaning of ARVs Speaker: Dr. Lynette Schumaker, Manchester University, UK, and Dr. Virginia Bond, Lon- don School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the ZAMBART Project, University of Zambia
For additional information, please see the web site at: http://www.who.int/global_health_histories
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By Jo Asvall, MD, MPH, WHO Regional Director Emeritus, Europe WHO is more than just a technical arm of the United Nations system – it is a beautiful vision and instrument to create a better future for Mankind. This vision was not a pipedream; it was the work of persons with profound public health knowledge, extensive experience, strong social and ethical views and impressive practical know-how. Those persons1 had lived through the terrible cataclysm of World War II and wanted to marshal global resources and catalyze peoples’ energy for a better future through healthy and just societies. This dream was enshrined in the ever on a global health scourge. The and techno- WHO Constitution, which still today Malaria Eradication program had a logical devel- is the heart of WHO and as up-to- very strong foundation: A global opments made big breakthroughs, date as ever. Stating that the health political and scientific consensus; a bearing the of all peoples is fundamental to scientifically solid strategy; huge, promise of an improved health ser- peace and security and that health is ample resources; excellent planning vice as the major solution for the one of the fundamental rights of and management, and thorough world’s health problems and leading every human being, it gives the training of staff at all levels. When 10 WHO to expand its reach in the organization an extremely strong years later a growing DDT resis- scientific field. mandate: WHO shall act as the tance in the Anopheles mosquito Spurred by the Malaria eradication directing and co-ordinating authority and post-eradication surveillance effort the WHA decided to take on on international health work. problems led the WHA to cancel the another very serious global health eradication attempt, huge results The scope of WHO’s work during problem. The Smallpox eradication had been achieved. 674 million those 60 years to fulfil its mandate is operations started well, but then people in 35 countries had been vast, and time permits me only to stalled to some extent, leading WHO freed from Malaria; in 76 countries highlight a few elements – which to undertake a thorough review of its (with 277 million people) eradication means that very many essential operational procedures. This was efforts were in preparation; and only ones will be left out, for which I successful, and in 1977 a major in 37 endemic countries (with 87 apologize. milestone in WHO’s history was million people) were there no plans reached when the last wild Smallpox World War II killed some 50 million yet. Furthermore, the value of the focus was extinguished. This amaz- people, leaving huge destruction, fundamental public health under- ing success was due, above all, to untold suffering and widespread standing and operational experience superb leadership – in the field, at disease in its wake. Right after its that the programme had given to programme level and from the WHO creation WHO threw itself into a more than a hundred thousand peo- top. global Tuberculosis control cam - ple around the world is difficult to While the disease specific initiatives paign, developing a systematic overestimate. A superbly managed of WHO had brought a lot of suc- approach to public health. That programme of global reach the Ma- cess, they did not explore to the full approach subsequently became the laria Eradication attempt was a right extent WHO’s constitutional man- hallmark of all its later programmes: initiative at a right time and it gave date of global leadership. Further- A thorough Situation analysis (using WHO a strong international image. more, in the beginning of the 1970s Prevalence surveys) on which to The 1960s brought freedom to the it became clear that the develop- build the whole programme; a strong colonies world wide and a tremen- ment theory of the 1960s was insuf- Prevention component (using BCG dous joy and optimism to their newly ficient, as the new health resources vaccinations); appropriate Care independent peoples. Providing were spent on new hospitals in the (Domiciliary drug treatment) and youngsters in the newly independent capitals, while nothing happened for Technology (X-Ray equipment im- nations with a “developed country” the masses in the rural areas. provement) and Research (Epidemi- level education and channelling In 1973 Halfdan Mahler was ap- ological, operational etc.). Having enough development funds to the pointed Director General, and thus established its modus operandi new nations was felt to be the through his inspirational and enlight- and world-wide operational basis, straight forward solution to health ened leadership a unique global WHO’s “global Parliament” – the problems of the developing world. movement in health – Health for All World Health Assembly (WHA) - in At the same time medical research (HFA) – was created. This 1955 launched the biggest attack ------1 Andrej Stampar, Karl Evang and Brock Chisholm were particularly strong and influential leaders among them.
Association of Former WHO Staff Page 7 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2008 QNT 73 Jo Asvall’s (contd) took the organization back to its prevention and its care strategies recent HQ initiatives to revive the origins and ushered in a fascinating posed formidable operational and PHC strategy is of great impor- period that has left its imprint on ethical problems – but problems that tance, as is the increased focus on WHO and the world until today. were well suited for the HFA ap- the health consequences of the climate change. From its start as a WHA resolution in proach. Through the charismatic 1977, HFA got its global launch leadership of Dr Jonathan Mann and Many lessons can be drawn from the through the 1978 Alma Ata Primary others WHO developed a very above – and from the many other Health Care (PHC) conference – the strong multidisciplinary AIDS/HIV important WHO initiatives not men- most influential public health confer- program, which gave results and tioned here. Clearly, the eradication ence ever. Stating that PHC is the strengthened WHO’s global leader- initiatives have been important, both most important part of any health ship – until WHO’s program was for their health impact and for their care system and is at the heart of severely weakened by the creation value in enhancing public health the HFA, the Alma Ata Declaration of UNAIDS. management capacities world-wide. became the lever that inspired all of When WHA adopted the Polio Great contributions have been made WHO’s programmes and a large Eradication programme at the end by WHO in many areas of health number of its Member States world of the 1980s, it took on a task that services development, health pro- wide to undertake fundamental re- turned out to be a particularly vexing motion and environmental health views of health development and one. While by the end of the 1990s protection. Most fascinating, how- align their own policies and pro- eradication had been achieved in 3 ever, has been the HFA experience grammes with the HFA ideas. of WHO¨s 6 regions - as well as in – and most frustrating has been to Thus, the HFA policy created a truly most countries of the remaining 3 – see HQ throwing that one out of the global movement in health. Building the last 10 years have not brought window. WHO’s 2 roles of scientific on inspirational ethical values and the final victory hoped for (although development and of assistance to up-to-date public health science, this recent developments are now re- individual countries are essential, movement also managed to em- kindling that hope). but without a unifying and visionary brace and inspire the “developed” policy framework the efforts often In the second half of the 1990s countries, linking WHO’s pro- become piecemeal, uncoordinated grammes logically to those of its WHO’s groundbreaking Tobacco and without a clear and coherent Member States in a cohesive and Convention initiative explored with focus. With the WHA and RC sup- mutually supportive manner2. How- success a tool (legally binding con- porting HFA in hand it was easy to ever, during the second half of the ventions) of WHO’s Constitution that gain access to the top political, managerial and professional leader- 1990s WHO Headquarters quietly let had hitherto not been given the the HFA drop, while it continued in ship in countries and to extend attention it deserves. Through that several regions and in many coun- WHO’s help in improving their na- tries3. process WHO’s long fight against tional health policies and program- the smoking habit has gained new memes – an issue of great impor- During the 1980s 2 infectious dis- importance and created effective tance. Until WHO reclaims that third eases got particular attention: strategic openings. role of being the keeper of the HIV/AIDS and Poliomyelitis: World’s Health Policy, its Constitu- As HIV/AIDS emerged in the begin- Since the start of the 21st century the tional mandate will not be fulfilled! ning of the decade, both its
------2 In the European Region e.g. the Regional Committee (RC) adopted the first European HFA policy framework – “ a blend of today’s realities and tomorrow’s dreams” – in 1980. The RC expanded it greatly in 1984, adopting time-limited targets, strategies to reach them, target specific indicators to measure progress in individual countries and in the region as a whole, and a regional Action Plan that included predetermined dates for periodic evaluations and updating. Such updates occurred in 1991 and 1998; in 2005 the RC confirmed the 1998 version as still valid. 3 The American Region in particular continued to give PHC a strong priority.
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Address to the 61st World Health Assembly
Dr Halfdan Mahler, Former Director-General of WHO Distinguished audience, My remarks will focus on "Why Alma-Ata in 1978 and Whither the Health for All Vision and Primary Health Care Strategy". Milan Kundera wrote in one of should be the attainment of his books: "The struggle what is known as "Health for against human oppression is All". the struggle between memory and forgetfulness." So allow And the Health Assembly de- me to remind all of us today, scribed that as a level of of the transcendental beauty health that will permit all the and significance of the defini- people of the world to lead so- health professions very conv- tion of health in WHO's Con- cially and economically pro- entional, indeed. stitution: "Health is a state of ductive lives. The Health Ass- It is, therefore, high time that complete physical, mental embly did not consider health we realize, in concept and in and social well-being and not as an end in itself, but rather practice, that knowledge of a merely the absence of dis- as a means to an end. That strategy of initiating social ease or infirmity." is, I believe as it should be. change is as potent a tool in This definition is immediately When people are mere pawns promoting health, as know- followed by: "The enjoyment in an economic and profit ledge of medical technology. of the highest attainable stan- growth game, that game is Primary health care is indeed dard of health is one of the mostly lost for the underprivi- conditioned by its holistic fundamental rights of every leged. framework and as such, may human being without distinc- Let me postulate that if we use different expressions. For tion of race, religion, political could imagine a tabula rasa in example, in some countries belief, economic or social health without having to deal health management has to be condition." Most importantly, with the constraints - tyranny considered along with such the very first constitutional if you wish - of the existing things as producing more or function of WHO reads: "To medical consumer industry, better food, improving irriga- act as the directing and coor- we would hardly go about tion, marketing products, etc. dinating authority on interna- dealing with health as we do It is not that people consider tional health work." Please do now in the beginning of the health services as unimpor- note that the Constitution 21st century. tant, but there are things like says "the" and not "a" direct- getting food, or a piece of ing and coordinating authority. To make real progress we land, or house or an acces- So please, allow this old man must, therefore, stop seeing sible source of water which in front of you to insist that the world through our medi- are more of a life and death unless we all become parti- cally tainted glasses. Discov- nature and must, in the wis- sans in renewed local and eries on the multi-factorial dom of the people, come first global battles for social and causation of disease have, for to make other things mean- economic equity in the spirit a long time, called attention to ingful. We have rarely consi- of distributive justice, we shall the association between dered these needs as falling indeed betray the future of our health problems of great im- within our expressed policies children and grandchildren. portance to man and social, for health development and economic and other environ- therefore, we risk being re- My memory tells me that the mental factors. Yet, consider- World Health Assembly had strictted, unilateral and inef- ing the tremendous political, fective in our action. this in mind when, in 1977, it social, technical and eco- decided that the main social Again, I am afraid that con- nomic implications of such a ventional or medical wisdom target for governments and multidimensional awareness WHO in the coming decades has done very little to provide of health problems I still find scientific and political credibil- most of today's so-called ity to the alleged importance of individual,
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Dr Mahler’s address (Contd) family and community parti- concept of primary health admirable summation of key cipation in health promotion. care as contained in the Dec- priorities. laration of Alma-Ata 1978: These concerns, to which I Are you ready to address have just alluded prompted an "Primary Health Care is es- yourselves seriously to the organizational study on sential health care based on existing gap between the "Methods of promoting the practical, scientifically sound health "haves" and the health development of basic health and socially acceptable meth- "have-nots" and to adopt con- services" by WHO's Executive ods and technology made crete measures to reduce it? Board in 1973 in which it is universally accessible to indi- Are you ready to ensure the bluntly stated that: viduals and families in the proper planning and imple- community through their full "There appears to be wide- mentation of primary health participation and at a cost that spread dissatisfaction of care in coordinated efforts the community and the coun- population about their health with other relevant sectors, in try can afford to maintain at services for varying reasons. order to promote health as an every stage of their develop- Such dissatisfaction occurs in indispensable contribution to ment in the spirit of self- the developed as well as in the improvement of the quality reliance and self- the Third World. The causes of life of every individual, fam- determination. It forms an can be summarized as a fail- ily and community as part of integral part, both of the coun- ure to meet the expectations overall socioeconomic devel- try's health system, of which it of the populations; an inability opment? is the central function and of the health services to de- main focus, and of the overall Are you ready to make pref- liver a level of national cover- social and economic devel- erential allocations of health age adequate to meet the opment of the community. resources to the social pe- stated demands and the riphery as an absolute prior- changing needs of different "It is the first level of contact ity? societies; a wide gap (which of individuals, the family and is not closing) in health status community with the national Are you ready to mobilize and between countries, and be- health system bringing health enlighten individuals, families tween different groups within care as close as possible to and communities in order to countries; rapidly rising costs where people live and work, ensure their full identification without a visible and mean- and constitutes the first ele- with primary health care, their ingful improvement in service; ment of a continuing health participation in its planning and a feeling of helplessness care process." and management and their on the part of the consumer contribution to its application? Let me also quote from the who feels (rightly or wrongly) Declaration of Alma-Ata, that Are you ready to introduce the that the health services and primary health care includes reforms required to ensure the personnel within them are at least: education concerning the availability of relevant progressing along an uncon- prevailing health problems human resources and tech- trollable path of their own and the methods of prevent- nology, sufficient to cover the which may be satisfying to the ing and controlling them; whole country with primary health professionals but which promotion of food supply and health care within the next is not what is most wanted by proper nutrition; an adequate two decades at a cost you the consumer". supply of safe water and ba- can afford? It was this organizational sic sanitation; maternal and Are you ready to introduce, if study by WHO's Executive child health care, including necessary, radical changes in Board that led to the decision family planning; immunization the existing health delivery by WHO in co-sponsorship against the major infectious system so that it properly with UNICEF to convene "The diseases; prevention and con- supports primary health care International Conference on trol of locally endemic dis- as the overriding health prior- Primary Health Care" in the eases; appropriate treatment ity? city of Alma-Ata in 1978.Let of common diseases and inju- me then repeat with awe and ries; and provision of essen- admiration, the consensus tial drugs. In my opinion, an
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Dr Mahler’s address (Contd)
Are you ready to fight the po- tional impacts in many coun- name of selective primary litical and technical battles tries having a critical mass of health care which broadly required to overcome any political and professional reflected the biases of na- social and economic obsta- leadership combined with tional and international donors cles and professional resis- adequate human and financial and not the needs and de- tance to the universal intro- resources to test its adaptabil- mands of developing coun- duction of primary health ity and applicability within the tries. care? local realities through a heavy But in spite of these brutal dose of systems and opera- Are you ready to make un- impediments many develop- tions research. equivocal commitments to ing countries have shown, adopt primary health care and Mind you, it is much easier to before and after the Alma-Ata to mobilize international soli- be rational, audacious and happening, courageous adhe- darity to attain the objective of innovative when you are rich! sion to its health message of health for all ? But, please, let us not forget equity in local and global that the inspirational energies health. Civil society move- Alma-Ata was, in my biased and the evidence base came ments have also been prime opinion, one of the rare occa- from the developing countries shakers and movers in these sions where a sublime con- themselves; be they govern- admirable efforts. sensus between the haves mental or non-governmental and the have-nots in local and And so, being an inveterate sources. global health emerged in the optimist I do believe that the spirit of a famous definition of For a majority of these coun- struggle between memory consensus: "I am not trying to tries, financial support from and forgetfulness can be won convince my adversaries that so-called donors was essen- in favour of the Alma-Ata they are wrong, quite to the tial to carry out a broad array Health for All Vision and its contrary, I am trying to unite of studies, in appropriate related Primary Health Care with them, but at a higher technology, human resources Strategy. Let us not forget level of insight." development, infra- structure that visionaries have been the development, social participa- realists in human progression. The Alma-Ata primary health tion, financing etc. in order to And so, distinguished audi- care consensus also reflects integrate the Alma-Ata vision ence, let us use the complete a famous truism: "The Health into heavily constrained local light generated by WHO's Universe is only complete for contexts. Constitution and the Alma-Ata those who see it in a com- Health for All Vision and Pri- plete light, it remains frag- Most donors, after an initial mary Health Care Strategy to mented for those who see it in outburst of enthusiasm guide us along the bumpy, fragmented light!"In conclu- quickly lost interest or dis- local and global health devel- sion, my personal view is that torted the very essence of the opment road. the Alma-Ata primary health Alma-Ata Health for All Vision care consensus has had ma- and Primary Health Care Thank you. jor inspirational and opera- Strategy under the ominous
This new project was started on August 6 by the sending of an e-mail to 226 AFSM members (outside the Geneva area). They were asked if they would accept to tap their memory about their own WHO experience through extensive exchanges by e-mail of carefully-structured written "interviews" based on a list of "suggested questions and themes". Within 24 hours 20 positive replies were received and another 12 followed since. Detailed instructions were sent by return to each respondent. We have already received a first draft from two of them. The final text of the "interviews" will be transferred to the WHO Archives. We also were able to correct an unfortunate oversight thanks to a message saying "My husband died several years ago and is therefore unable to participate". Effectively we had thoughtlessly "forgotten" the spouses. An adapted list of suggested questions was immediately prepared - a spouse has already volunteered to participate. Whatever your status, it is your participation which is important. If ready to participate please let me know ([email protected]) NB: Over 45 e-mail addresses were reported as having "permanent errors” Please be kind enough to inform Ann Yamada (annyamada@)gmai.lcom, in case of a modification of your e-mail address by checking the one indicated in the AFSM "2007 Direc- tory" list of members. Thank you.
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Memories of a former Legal Adviser - Talk given by Dr Gutteridge on 7April 2008
I came to Geneva in the spring of 1948, 60 years ago. I travelled by train through war-torn France having changed in Paris to take the night sleeper. Geneva was a much smaller city at that time but it was striking to come from a former war zone to a place of peace with no obvious signs of destruction (the outskirts of Geneva had been bombed in error) and hardly any rationing. This was to the Interim Commission of WHO - Although the Constitution had come into force on April 7, the organization proper did not come into being until 31 August 1948, when at the first World Health Assembly all the activities of the Com- mission were taken over by WHO. I came as the only UN agency at the time an accommodation was a lawyer, not having its own headquar- reached with UNICEF. a profession regarded with ters building. In the then legal office we some suspicion by the doctors. Nevertheless, after the hell dealt with a variety of subjects: I recall Dr Gautier, one of the and horror of war it did seem constitutional interpretation, IC's senior staff, who had a to be a wonderful thing to be rules applying to the governing good knowledge of vernacular engaged in United Nations bodies, treaty making, agree- English saying to me, during a activities and I remember the ments and contracts, institu- discussion on a matter of enthusiasm of the early staff, tional programming issues, Pharmaceuticals, "you people eager to get on with the crea- examples being the creation of - you would call a spade a tion of a new international the International Agency for bloody shovel". My chief had health organisation and help- Research on Cancer in Lyons been looking for an English ing to reconstruct the world. or the Onchocerciasis control speaking lawyer with know- We were all of 60 individuals programme in Africa, person- ledge of French. In point of fact at the beginning. I began as a nel and financial problems, my main experience at that PI at the age of 27 and fi- staff disputes, etc. time was military as I had nished as a Director – I imag- served in the British army from ine that this would probably be We were also pressed to deal 1941 to 1946 and had landed impossible in the UN system today. with various hot potatoes that in Normandy in 1944 and was nobody else wanted to touch, engaged in the battles in Despite the auspicious begin- such as human rights. Thus, a nings, problems soon began northern Europe until the ces- missive from the Secretary- to loom. Finances were re- sation of hostilities in 1945. By General of the UN that had stricted, there were legal diffi- good luck I had survived when been festering on someone's culties over an acceptance of most of my contemporaries desk for a month or so would the Constitution linked to a had died. However, I found arrive on a Friday afternoon right of withdrawal and the myself with other former mili- covered with urgent slips and question whether this would be tary men, including Dr Brock signatures in varied coloured of general application, a matter Chisholm, Dr Dorolle, Dr Mani, inks passing the buck and which as far as I know has asking for a full report to be Dr Jaffar, Dr Lakshmanan who never been resolved, regional prepared by the following together with others had been arguments, political problems Monday. For some reason we engaged in the military in their and rumours of war. Together also had to deal with mes- professional capacities. In any with these was the question of sages received from the men- event the military experience relations with UNICEF, WHO tally disturbed or other frenzied was useful in the sense of being the only Specialized administration and organisa- Agency in the UN System find- individuals claiming that WHO tion and also enabled one not ing itself with another organi- had in some way done them to take occasional disasters sation created almost simulta- wrong or seeking help from us. too seriously. neously to deal with matters of I believe that some of WHO's We were housed in the Palais public health, maternal and past and present problems des Nations as a rather unwel- child health being a function of have arisen from the relative come tenant and a small ex- WHO under Article 2(1) of the status of public health within tension was built at the west- Constitution. This caused government structures. As an ern end of the complex for this some heart searching in the example of this I remember a purpose. I think that WHO was World Health Assembly until
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Dr Gutteridge (contd)
TV news programme referring erly staff with heart attacks. ganisation and UNRRA in di- to a government minister's They were broken up and the rect operations in the member move to the health department viable contents distributed to countries. There was perhaps as "slipping all the way down the Regional Offices. Good- somewhat of a tendency at the to health". Hardly very compli- ness knows what they did with outset to "blind them with sci- mentary. Brock Chisholm in his them. ence" and a lack of under- time complained that he was One matter which exercised standing that no programme the worst remunerated execu- me and others in the early could succeed unless the tive head in the UN system days was the primitive state of health administrations and and had to put up with lay communications. When tele- authorities involved were in a meddling in health matters communications were in the position to continue the work when a UN commission de- hands of Post Offices it really after the international coopera- leted medical training and was a performance, for exam- tion had ceased. mental health from the draft ple, to get in touch with a Re- UN Convention on economic, gional Office or another sister This came to be recognised in social and cultural rights. De- organisation in another coun- an important resolution adopt- spite their importance, these try. Messages were sent by ed by the World Health As- remain outside of Article 12 of mammoth telexes, requiring a sembly in 1970 when the As- the Convention to this day. dedicated operator and were sembly set out the most effec- punctuated with prolific tive principles for the estab- As an aside, a rather farcical lishment and development of incident that came to the "STOP" and "I REPEAT". Calls had to be booked in advance national health systems, in- eventual knowledge of the cluding the proclamation of the rank and file, like myself, was and there was no guarantee responsibility of the State for the discovery that at the height that one would not be cut off in the protection of the popula- of rumours over the possibility mid-conversation, I recall at tion, to be based on putting of a third world war, a scheme one Director General's morn- into effect a complex of eco- had been concocted to evacu- ing meeting during a Health nomic and social measures ate those staff who were not Assembly saying that it was military reservists to another easier to bring back a crippled which directly or indirectly neutral country somewhat re- spaceship from the moon then promote the attainment of a moved from the potential bat- to ring WHO from the Palais nationwide system of health tle zone on chartered civil air- des Nations. Personal com- services based on a general line planes in the event of an puters had arrived in force national plan and local plan- outbreak of fighting in Europe. shortly before I retired and I ning. This marked a far cry I have no idea who dreamed imagine that those old prob- from the early days, when the up such a scheme. Whoever it lems have long since gone Director General had been was had little concept of mod- away. enjoined not pursue a policy of ern war as all civilian aircraft Considering the organization's what was termed "socialised would have been immediately programme, one must recall medicine" This was a precur- grounded at the outbreak. In that WHO's two main predec- sor of "Health for All". any case it seems doubtful essors, the League of Nations Since those days, WHO has that the Secretariat had the Health Organisation in Geneva greatly progressed, with major authority to do this; the matter and the International Public achievements such as small- was never reported to the gov- Health Office in Paris were pox eradication. Hardly a day erning bodies which would under somewhat of a cloud at goes by when WHO is not probably have rejected such a the time, The League organi- mentioned in news reports proposal. The matter came to sation because of its failure to and I think that the organiza- our knowledge because the secure peace and the IPHO tion must be the best known in Headquarters Contract Review because of its rather static the UN system and held in the Committee was asked to de- nature and its association with highest regard. I am very cide on the disposal of time ex- Vichy. WHO clearly did not happy to have served in those pired medical kits to accom- want to become a bureau- early days and to have helped pany the aircraft, presumably cratic convention making body in WHO'S creation and devel- to bandage us up when shot and therefore followed the opment. down or to succour those eld initiatives of the League or
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Sixty Years of WHO's Global Public Health Achievements
A poem by Sue Block Tyrrell ------Sue Block Tyrrell (TDR)* has worked in the Organi- zation for quite a few of its sixty years. In her spare time, she enjoys writing poems and lyrics for special oc- casions, including those celebrated by WHO - for exam- ple on the occasion of the departure of Dr D.A. Henderson, who led the smallpox eradication campaign in WHO, and for the occasional staff cabaret show at past WHO dances. « Sue has written various poems for special events in TDR where she works, and decided to put pen to paper on the celebration of sixty years of WHO. Her poem highlights landmark achievements and considerable progress made by WHO and its many partners and collaborators over the past six decades. As WHO staff, we can look back on our history with gratitude and pride.
7 April 1948 Proved to be an auspicious date, A good rationale to enforce IHR. The WHO Constitution came into force Non-communicable diseases are now on the rise, And WHO's work began its course Health needs good diet and regular exercise. To make health for all people a priority, Tobacco control and road safety promotion A right to absence of disease and infirmity. Were not liked by all, they caused a commotion. Five Regional Offices began to grow, Essential medicines are key where funding is tight, Adding global coverage to existing PAHO, Health for all makes our common future bright. Plus country offices all over the world So many key areas are covered by WHO, Where the WHO flag flutters high, unfurled. Further topics will come and bring programmes First targets were infectious diseases, all too rife, anew Bringing sickness and ending so many a life. Such as climate change issues, innovation, IP Early successes focused on yaws and TB, Will bring new challengers to solve by the DG. Plus malaria control, no sign yet of HIV. Seven DGs for the 60 years spanned, Disease eradication took on a role Chisholm, Candau, Mahler, Nakajima, Brundtland, And with smallpox WHO achieved that goal, On to JW Lee and now Margaret Chan A huge contribution for humanity, Have led to the current strategic health plan. It took 21 years from dream to reality. May your successes continue and show But the polio goal has yet to be won, The need to strive for global public health Despite the hard work and efforts done. And help each other to share in our com- Many agencies/programmes were set up to mark mon wealth The spread of disease, IARC, EPI, TDR, Six decades of work for which to be Global Programme on AIDS, RBM, Stop TB, proud, All striving for greater health security, On this 60th birthday, to proclaim aloud Assisted by GOARN to keep constant view Many happy returns to you WHO. For deadly viruses like SARS, avian flu. Today's travel brings rapid disease from afar,
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Readers’ Corner
I should like to take this opportunity to congratulate our Committee on the progress made in the presentation of the Quarterly Newsletter. I imagine the daily efforts it entails for the Editorial Board and thank them most sincerely. And I must refer to the considerable work that our Committee carries out for the benefit of the re- tired, with the support of the Management and the personnel. Warm thanks. Jean Romain
Dear Friends Unable to be a candidate for the 2008 elections, living as I do some 600 km from Geneva, I would like you to know how much I appreciate all you do in defending the retired staff of WHO. My thanks to you all. Robert Daspres
ED: Our thanks to these three readers: your appreciation encourages us to keep at it!
New members
We have pleasure in welcoming to the large AFSM family the following new members and we congratulate them on their decision. Life members : Mr Sora BHANDARY; Dr Mohammadou Kabir CHAM; Mrs Geneviève PINET; Dr Brian WILLIAMS. Annual members:
Mrs Josseline BOISBELAUD; Mrs Elisabeth FELLER ; Mrs Praxedes FONTANILLA ; Mrs Gisela VOGEL .
Conversion from annual members to life members : Mrs Raymonde BENE ; Mr Giovanni CEREDA ; Mrs Marguerite DE HALLER; Dr Marcus A. C. DOWLING; Mr Virgilio FEDRIZZI; Mr Jean GERMAIN; Mrs Margaret GRINLING; Dr Frank GUTTERIDGE; Dr Amara TOURÉ.
HELP WANTED
We are looking for a a recently retired WHO staff member who worked on a WHO website using WebIt and who would be able to give us some time to help improve and revise the AFSM web site (http://www.who.int/formerstaff)? We can handle routine up- dates to the web site, but we would be grateful for help to add some new photos or graphics. If you can assist us, please contact Carole Modis at [email protected]
Association of Former WHO Staff Page 15 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2008 QNT 73 Travels
One of the last secrets of the Mediterranean This morning I woke up in “…a strange city that seemed to have been cast up in the valley one winter’s night like some prehistoric creature that was now clawing its way up the mountainside. Everything in the city was old and made of stone... ”. In the afternoon, I wandered most isolated, mysterious and arrival of Aeneas as recounted in through an archaeological site in an economically underdeveloped coun- Virgil’s epic poem or Lord Byron2 olive grove buzzing with cicadas— tries in the world. Changes of striding down the shaded paths in according to classical mythology it government and civil unrest charac- Albanian dress I was founded by exiles from Troy. terized the 1990’s. Today Albania The first lines in this article refer to Later, I swam in an opal coloured seems to be slowly recovering from Gjiorcaster with its stone medieval sea with white beaches, and now, its turbulent and often tragic past Ottoman-houses—200 of them are with a cold beer in hand, I watch the as it enjoys a period of relative free- designated as historical monuments. sun set on the wine-dark Ionian Sea. dom, peace and renewal. Another of the delightful towns is Can you guess where I am? One of the first harbingers of this renaissance is tourism. Although, Berat, the village of a thousand Most likely, your first thought was the roads are often rough and under windows and innumerable narrow not the Republic of Albania or construction and accommodations streets and courtyards. Shqipëria land of eagles. A part of very basic, it is a privilege to visit this llyria in ancient times and later of the Driving from the capital, Tirana, the beautiful, ancient country and fasci- Roman Empire, Albania was ruled mountains come dramatically down nating to witness how it is waking up to the sea as the road winds down to to the twenty-first century. Vlorë, Djermi, Saranda and Durres. Among the discoveries to be made Along the way there is a stop to visit in Albania are remarkable archeo- a hilltop monastery. A guardian logical sites such as Apollinia comes forward with a bunch of keys founded by Greek settlers in 600 BC and opens the wooden church doors and used under Roman rule by revealing Julius Caesar in his campaign In Tirana against Pompeii. Another marvel is by the Byzantine Empire from 535 to Burtint, a microcosm of Mediterra- 1204. An alliance of Albanian chiefs nean history representing the rise led by Skanderbeg failed to halt the and fall of the great empires that advance of the Ottoman Turks, and dominated the region: llyrian ruins, the country remained under Turkish a Roman town and theatre, an early rule for more than four centuries, until it proclaimed its independence on Nov. 28, 1912. Apollonia A battlefield in World War I, Albania Byzantine frescos blazing on the became a republic under a conser- walls. Last but not least, the local vative Muslim landlord, King Zog. wine is inexpensive; there are to- During World War II, first Italy then mato, cucumber and feta salads and Germany occupied Albania until fish to eat and the Albanian people Communist guerrillas seized power Berat are happy to see you. Hopefully in 1944. For the next forty years, Albania will be able to preserve its Christian baptistery and basilica. Enver Hoxha coerced Albania to natural beauty while progressing Situated in lovely wooded park by forge its individual version of the towards a prosperous and peaceful the sea, it is easy to imagine the social state and become one of the future. Carole Modis ------
1 The first line from Chronicle of Stone by Ismail Kadare, first published in Albanian in 1971 as Kronikë në gur 2 In his notes to Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage he wrote that the Albanians “struck me forcibly by their resemblance to the Highlanders of Scotland, in dress, figure and manner of living. Their very mountains seemed Caledonian with a kinder climate.
Association of Former WHO Staff Page 16 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2008 QNT 73 In memoriam
PROFESSOR AMBROSE WASUNNA A message from Dr Steffen Groth, Director, Department of Essential Health Technologies, World Health Organi- zation, Geneva, Switzerland: On behalf of Professor Ambrose Wasunna's former colleagues and friends in the World Health Organization, I am honoured to pay tribute to a remarkable and much loved man. Ambrose's involvement WHO. He was a deeply devoted Christian, with WHO began as early which was reflected in his work and attitude in as 1978 when he partici- the complex environment of an international pated in an Expert Com- organization. He is also remembered with great mittee on Cancer Statistics affection by a number of professional organiza- and he joined WHO in tions and institutions for which he was respon- 1986, following the first sible in their roles as Organizations in Official stage of his distinguished Relations with WHO, none more so than the career in Kenya. In 1987, World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesi- he was an active member of the Global Blood ologists. Safety Initiative, which was established as a After retirement from his post as Divisional Di- collaborative endeavour between WHO, the rector, Ambrose returned to the University of Global Programme on AIDS, the International Nairobi to realize his dream of building a dis- Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent trict hospital in Samburu. Societies, the World Federation of Hemophilia and the International Society of Blood Transfu- Ambrose was greatly respected and loved by sion. his former friends and colleagues in Geneva and beyond. He is remembered as much for As Director of the Programme on Health Tech- his inimitable personal qualities as for his ex- nologies, Ambrose worked closely with the pertise as a clinical specialist and a manager. incumbent Director of the new department of Blood Safety and Clinical Technology, who His tall, charismatic figure, always so elegant, was accompanied by an enthusiastic yet mod- remembers him as a close friend and trusted est personality that captivated and animated colleague, who will be sadly missed. He played others. Colleagues speak particularly of his a key role in establishing a vibrant and forward- warm smile and infectious, often mischievous, looking new programme to address the many areas of work that he recognised as being es- sense of humour. "He was a true gentleman", said one. Another spoke of how anyone need- sential to the developing world. ing surgery would feel so safe and confident in Ambrose worked closely with the many col- Ambrose's hands. We all agree that he was leagues and friends he made in his time in simply a lovely man. He is survived by his wife, Marigold and 4 children, and grandchildren. ------Charles GOOSSENS It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Charles Goossens which occurred on 10 March 2008. We understood each other very well – Charles, always calm, balanced, with clear sound judgement – and we usu- ally shared the same opinion. But I had not seen him during the past 5-10 years busy as we each were with our respective families and other activities. I often called Charles « the Director-General's visitors. In February Carolus ; he had been l988 I was designated to replace Charles tem- selected as the Director porarily during a brief absence. As the Direc- General's messenger, a tor-General was absent, a long calm day key post on the seventh floor of the main stretched lay ahead of me and I amused my- headquarters building. « God's messenger », self by writing the following text, which happily I as he was called could be found behind a large found was still in my possession: desk in a wide open space where he received See next page
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In memoriam (contd)
Un plaisir, Carolus que de te remplacer. - « M’sieur Goossens n’est donc pas là ? Mais, à ton bureau, ce que l’on peut s’ennuyer ! - Non, mais demain il sera là ! « L’ennui naquit, dit-on, de l’uniformité », - Mon Dieu, il n’est pas malade pour le moins ? 3 C’est pour moi maintenant vérité révélée. - Nenni, ma mie, je crois qu’il vaque à Moëns 4 Chaque jour où, par Ciron1, au septième dépêché, - Son dos... ? N’est-il pas retenu par son dos ? Il me faut de longues heures sur mes fesses endurer ! - Depuis son siège neuf, il l’a comme un sandow ! » Je grimpe, comme au théâtre, jusqu’à ce poulailler, - À croire, vu le vif intérêt qu’il est porté D’ailleurs, ne suis-je point dessous le pool2, oyez - À ton ramage, à ton plumage, à ton joli nez, Ces vains bavardages et ces caquètements : - Que, de ce beau et vaste poulailler, - Tu es, des vrais coqs, le plus recherché... ! Février 1988 ------1 The affectionate gallicisation of the name of our Chief « il Signore Cirone »; 2 the pool, the shorthand typing services in the official languages; 3 Charles lived in Prevessin Moens: 4 Like many former pilots, Charles suffered from back pain resulting from the « g » endured at the commands of fighter planes. Based on the above text, it could be thought that Charles was something of a Don Juan: nothing was further from the truth. I was aston- ished how many secretaries noticed Charles' absence and I drew it to his attention in this humoristic way.
------Dr. George Shidrawi died on 17 July 2008 after a long struggle with stomach cancer. Born in 1932, George ter-regional team in Kankiya, Northern Nigeria graduated as a biologist to test the possibility of interrupting malaria from the American Uni- transmission by combining insecticide spraying versity of Beirut in l953 and mass drug administration moving, in l969 and won a 2-year WHO and until its final evaluation, to the reformulated fellowship to study project in Garki, North of Kano. Medical Entomology at the London School of In l975 George became Regional Adviser for Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. He obtained an Vector Biology and Control in EMRO; and in M.Sc in l955 and became a member of the l986 he joined the Malaria Action Programme Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene in Geneva, transformed in l990 into the Divi- and the Royal Entomological Society. George sion of Control of Tropical Diseases. He retired subsequently studied at CDC, Atlanta, with field in Geneva in 1992, obtained a D.Sc. in 1994, training in Florida, Georgia and with the Ten- and undertook numerous STC missions in Af- nessee Valley Authority. rica and Latin America. Returning to Lebanon, he joined the Ministry of George said the best period of his life had Health as Director of the Division of Insect and been in Dacca and Kankiya, places where life Rodent Control, and subsequently directed the was reduced to real essentials. A born natural- Programme of Malaria Eradication when Leba- ist with a keen interest in biology, George non became the first country in EMR to eradi- thrived on field research. A patriarchal discipli- cate malaria and one of its main vector spe- narian with his team, he was the first to follow cies. required discipline, demanding but protective of George was recruited by WHO in l959 as Ad- his staff. viser (entomology) to the Malaria Eradication George could enliven any party and was a Campaign, Tunisia. He married his wife Odile great dancer. He was a perfectionist not only in in l963 while on home leave from his second his work but in all he undertook, including golf. assignment in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) Always ready to help he served for two years and later that year joined the WHO inter- on the Executive Committee of AFSM. regional Malaria Field Research Project in George leaves a large vacuum in the hearts of Southern Uganda where his first two children all who knew him. Dr José Najera were born. In l965 George joined the other in------Other deceases recently notified Ms May RACINE; Mrs Suzanne TESTUZ; Mrs Isabella CORRIGAN: 20 August 2008; Mr Michel REVERDIN: 11 September 2008.
Association of Former WHO Staff Page 18 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2008 QNT 73 On the lighter side
How to Give a Cat A Pill 1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left close door onto neck, to leave head showing. Force arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently throat with elastic band. apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. 9. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard Allow cat to close mouth and swallow. door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to 2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. cheek and check records for date of last tetanus Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process. shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw Tee shirt away and 3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill fetch new one from bedroom. away. 4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, 10. Call fire department to retrieve the damn cat holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws from across the road. Apologize to neighbor who open and push pill to back of mouth with right fore- crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. finger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten. Take last pill from foil wrap. 5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top 11. Tie the little *******'s front paws to rear paws with of wardrobe. garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill 6. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Be cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pen- of water down throat to wash pill down. cil and blow down drinking straw. 12. Consume remainder of scotch. Get spouse to 7. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to hu- drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while mans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band- doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from remnants from right eye. carpet with cold water and soap. 13. Arrange for RSPCA to collect mutant cat from 8. Retrieve cat from neighbour’s shed. Get another hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard, and hamsters.
How To Give A Dog A Pill: 1. Wrap it in bacon. 2. Toss it in the air. ------Only great minds can read this This is weird, but interesting! fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it ------
WIZARD OF ID International Herald Tribune 20.12.2004
Association of Former WHO Staff Page 19 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2008 QNT 73 Publications Violence and Health of WHO’s report “World Report on Jean-Paul Darmsteter, former - acts of violence are unacceptable Violence and Health” published in Public Information Officer in EURO on the grounds of human rights; 2002. While many countries only and still a poet, published in 2007 - violence has an impact on physical, had a punitive approach to this prob- “Violence et santé, le refus engagé mental and social health, and has an lem, WHO had already adopted a d’une fatalité” (Violence and Health, economic cost; resolution in 1996 which defined the committed refusal of a fatality) at - the person is considered in the violence as a public health problem. the Hôpitaux universitaires de context of his/her life, history, cul- According to the Organization, vio- Genève in co-edition with Médecine ture; lence is one of the major causes of et Hygiène, to celebrate the tenth - the confidentiality of the meetings death and traumas in the world. It anniversary of the “Consultation is guaranteed by the medical secret; recommends setting up systematic interdisciplinaire de médecine et de - the intervention aims at promoting and coordinated measures of pre- prévention de la violence de the autonomy of the person. vention. Genève” (Geneva Interdisciplinary The book includes studies and According to Professor Daniel Consultation of medicine and pre- thoughts, collected by the author, Halpérin, founder and manager of vention of violence). that explain and justify the need to the Consultation, medicine cannot The Consultation is open to all per- detect and look after victims of vio- elude the problem of violence: it sons confronted with a situation of lence, and the major role of preven- must extend its action in this area, violence, whatever role they have in tion. where social and legal elements this situation. Its action is based on The creation of the Consultation in interact with medical ones. the following principles: 1997 predated the recommendations Yves Beigbeder
Communiqué ------As indicated in the Editorial (page 3), the cost of producing the newsletter will in future be borne by AFSM, which will probably have to assume other costs till now absorbed by the Administration of WHO.
We shall be obliged to print fewer copies and to send them to paying members only. However, QNT will continue to be available to all retirees on our website http://who.int/formerstaff.
As regards information circulars, in order to keep costs low we would prefer to send them to members by e-mail where possible; of course those of you who do not have an e-mail address will continue to receive them by mail. So kindly check whether the e-mail address included in the Directory is valid and if not please send the current one. Those who have not so far indicated their e-mail address are kindly requested to send it to us at: [email protected]. Many thanks.
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Announcements
Elections As you are aware, there will be elections this year – 15 candidates have come forward for the 12 places on the Committee to be filled. The ballot counting will take place on 21 October and the new Committee will be in place on 11 November. We hope that you will all vote! We will keep you informed of the results. ------Vaccination against Influenza in Geneva ------For the fourth consecutive year, two sessions of free flu vaccination for retirees and spouses, who are still insured under WHO staff health insurance, will be undertaken in October at WHO/HQ, in cooperation with the Medical Service, Health Insurance, and AFSM. The first session will take place on Monday 13 October from 9:00 to 12:30, and 14:00 to 16:30 and the second one on Monday 20 October, from 9:00 to 12:30, and from 14:00 to 16:30. The vaccinations will take place in the Hall in front of the Medical Service. You are invited to dress such a way that you can easily bare your arm. You already received a circular describing the whole process. Please be kind enough to fill in and return the form attached, by e-mail or post, as soon as possible. ------Health Insurance ------A joint meeting of the Health Insurance Surveillance Committees of HQ and the Regions will take place at Headquarters from 6 – 10 October; the purpose of this meeting, the ...... th, is to review the current financial situation of the Fund, prospects for the coming years, any modifications and /or improvements needed and the consequent adjustment of the allowances and contributions, and to modify the rules accordingly.
------How can the AFSM Committee help you ? Dear Readers- do you know what the Committee can do to assist you ? Apart from this newsletter, which we hope you find interesting, we have organized, and will con- tinue to do so, trips (cruises, tours, at very competitive prices) to Morocco, Bavaria, Andalucia, capitals of the North, and the Mediterranean, and visits to museums---which make up the cultural side of our activities. We also help with more basic matters: - we assist members with health insurance, pensions, survivors entitlements, retirement homes, long -term health care, etc. - Examples include helping resolve a question of non payment of retirement home expenses fol- lowing the death of an insolvent retiree; finding a retirement home for another member while help- ing one of the family to obtain a residence permit, and assisting a widow who had not received the pension for her deceased husband for many months. There is also the important rôle played by the Committee's representative on the Health Insurance Surveillance Committee. The purpose of this information is not to pat ourselves on the back. but to remind you of the ways in which we can help you, if needed.
Association of Former WHO Staff Page 21 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2008 QNT 73 Joining AFSM – Updating membership
It is intended only for those who are not yet members, or are annual members. Are you still not a member of AFSM? Is it because you don’t like it or what it stands for? Let us know. Or, do you keep forgetting to join?
Hope you will become a life member – it costs only 250 CHF – and you will never again have to remember to pay your dues. Or, you want to give it a try? Then join for a year at 25 CHF – and decide after a year. Fill in the form below and send us your payment.
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as an annual member (Please fill in the application form below)
I am already an annual member and I want to convert into a life member
to pay my dues for the current year ______
Dues can be paid either in cash at the office or through a postal form (add 2 CHF for charges) for persons who live in Switzerland, or by bank transfer to the AFSM account number (+ bank charge, if any): IBAN : CH 4100279279-D310-2973-1 SWIFT : UBSWCHZH80A ______
APPLICATION to JOIN
Name ………………………….. First Name…………………………………………….
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Association of Former WHO Staff Page 22