OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION No. 30 WORK OF WHO 1950 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR -GENERAL TO THE WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY AND TO THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION PALAIS DES NATIONS GENEVA April 1951 ABBREVIATIONS The following abbreviations are used in the Official Records of the World Health Organization : ACC - Administrative Committee on Co- ordination CCICMS - Council for the Co- ordination of International Congresses of Medical Sciences CCTA - Commission for Technical Co- operation in Africa South of the Sahara ECAFE - Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East ECE - Economic Commission for Europe FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization IBE - International Bureau of Education ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organization ICITO - Interim Commission of the International Trade Organization ILO - International Labour Organisation (Office) IMCO - Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization IRO - International Refugee Organization ITU - International Telecommunication Union OIHP - Office International d'Hygiène Publique PASB - Pan American Sanitary Bureau PASO - Pan American Sanitary Organization TAB - Technical Assistance Board TAC - Technical Assistance Committee UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNICEF - United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund UNRPR - United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees UNRRA - United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration UNRWAPRNE - United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East WFUNA - World Federation of United Nations Associations TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction 1 CHAPTER 1 - FIELDS OF ACTIVITY Active Measures in the Control of Malaria, Tuberculosis and Venereal Diseases 5 Research and Related Activities in Other Communicable Diseases 12 Public - Health Administration 18 Healthy Development of the Child 19 Control of the Physical Environment 21 Mental Well -Being 23 Social and Occupational Health 25 Nutrition 26 Health Education of the Public 27 Nursing 28 Improved Standards of Teaching and Training 30 Availability of Essential Drugs and Equipment 37 Health Services to Special Groups 38 International Conventions, Agreements and Regulations on Health 40 Epidemiological Information 43 Health Statistics 46 International Standards and Pharmacopoeia 48 Technical Publications and Reference Services 54 Technical Assistance for Economic Development 59 Collaboration with Other Organizations 61 Public Information 69 General Administration 72 CHAPTER 2 - ACTIVITIES BY REGION AND COUNTRY African Region 82 Region of the Americas 85 South -East Asia Region 95 European Region 108 Eastern Mediterranean Region 121 Western Pacific Region 133 ANNEXES 1. Membership of the World :Health Organization 141 2.Membership of the Executive Board 142 3. Expert Committees and Expert Advisory Panels 143 4.Conferences and Meetings called by WHO in 1950 150 5. Seminars, Symposia and Training Centres organized by or in co- operation with the World Health Organization in 1950 152 - III - Page 6.Conferences and Meetings called by the United Nations and Specialized Agencies in 1950 at which WHO was represented 153 7. Conferences and Meetings of Non - Governmental and Other Organizations in 1950 at which WHO was represented. 156 8. Tentative Schedule of Meetings to be called by WHO in 1951 159 9.Non- Governmental Organizations in Official Relationship with WHO 160 10. Selected List of Technical Articles and Reports issued by WHO in 1950 161 11.Budgetary Provision for, and Expenditure on, 1950 Programme 169 12. Structure of the Secretariat at Headquarters 171 13.Senior Officials of the World Health Organization 172 14. Geographical Distribution of Staff 173 15.Status of Contributions and Advances to the Working Capital Fund 174 16. Allocations from Technical Assistance Funds to the World Health Organization 180 17.Medical Literature, Teaching Equipment and Supplies for Governmental Programmes . 181 18.Distribution of Fellowships 184 SUPPLEMENT Summary Analysis of Reports from Member States 193 -- Iv -- INTRODUCTION The annual report for 1950 is an attempt to review in concrete terms the work accomplished by the World Health Organization during its second full year of activity as a permanent specialized agency of the United Nations. In introducing it I shall not attempt to do more than outline certain important factors which had either a decisive or, at least, a substantial influence on lines of action in 1950. A consideration of these factors will, I believe, not only contribute to a more complete understanding of WHO's development up to the present, but will also indicate some of the many problems which it must solve in the future. During the year under review, the Organization has had to face up to its role as the co- ordinating agency in international health work, particularly as a result of the growth -both inside and outside the United Nations -of the various programmes of technical assistance for economic development ;of the progress made in decentralizing its activities and of the different needs of Member countries as expressed in their requests for assistance. A close study of WHO's work will show that as a result of experience -mainly based on requests from governments -the general policy guiding our operations has inevitably had to move away from what has come to be known as " the priorities " -in which emphasis was given to a few particular diseases, conditions or techniques -to a system which can be said to embrace any form of assistance needed by countries for the general promotion and care of health. From the beginning WHO has been regarded as a practical and useful co- operative medium through which the knowledge, skills and techniques of modern public - health practice and medical science, now available in some countries, may be made accessible to all nations intent upon strengthening their public -health services.Governments, by their requests and their co- operation, have confirmed this point of view. WHO has continued to carry out in every possible way the obligations placed upon it by its Constitution in co- ordinating international health work so that dangers of competition and of harmful or unnecessary duplication of effort may be avoided as far as possible. In the pages which follow there is ample evidence of the closer co- operation with the United Nations and itsorgans, with the specialized agencies, with non -governmental organizations (e.g., the World Medical Association, the World Federation for Mental Health and many others) and also, recently, with inter -governmental organizations outside the framework of the United Nations. The United Nations expanded programme of technical assistance for economic development of under- developed areas, which began in the second half of 1950, has considerably increased WHO's responsibilities in co- ordination, as well as in the provision of technical advice and guidance, and has helped to bring about a changed pattern into which the operations of the Organization must fit.As a result of programmes of the United Nations, of other intergovernmental organizations concerned with projects of assistance to under- developed countries, and of UNICEF (which is now undertaking large -scale health programmes), resources in the field of health are available to many governments to an extent never before realized and which it may beyond their capacity to absorb. One government is reported to have actually reached the point of stating that it is incapable of accepting programmes in technical assistance beyond those now planned.In effect, WHO, with a limited budget itself, now has the technical responsibility for health programmes amounting to many millions of dollars.Some of the funds for these programmes come from free contributions and others are 2 WORK OF WHO, 1950 subject to certain political values ; they may have to be disbursed quickly so as to produce speedy results. These considerations must be taken into account. Above all, WHO must assist governments to ascertain the kind of assistance which can be absorbed by their countries and the pace at which they can absorb it, constantly emphasizing the close relationship of health and disease with economic and social conditions. By taking stock of available resources, governments can assess their requirements over a long period and make plans for meeting them in an orderly manner. It is most important to avoid a lack of balance in the development of national health services, as this can so easily react to the detriment of the populations concerned. The effect of the technical assistance programme on the general standards of living in the under -developed countries -with the corresponding rise in standards of health -will not be felt for some time. Clearly, however, the health activities made possible by the funds allocated to WHO under this programme and other similar programmes will not only contribute immensely to the speed, efficiency and social acceptability of economic development, but will ultimately demonstrate the truth of one of the cardinal principles of the Organization -namely, that the raising of physical, mental and social health standards will help to establish a happier and more peaceful world. The progress made by the Organization in 1950 has been greatly assisted by the rapid decentralization which has taken place during the year. The expansion of the regional network, although it has been a great strain on financial resources, has been one of the most significant