The WHO in Southern Asia and the Western Pacific

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HE Fifth World Health Assembly, meeting in Geneva in May T1I952, approved a program of activities for the World Health Organization (WHO) for I953 which includes a comprehensive range of projects for the countries of Southern Asia and the Western Pacific. Their cost will be approximately US$9oo,ooo out of a total working budget for the Organization of about 9V2 million dollars.' In terms of the population of Asia (excluding the Soviet Union and continental China) and the countries of the Western Pacific, the field budget for these areas represents a per capita expenditure of about one-seventh of a cent for the year. Expressed in these terms, the program seems hopelessly inadequate-or might it be that this method of measuring the work of WHO is wrong? To answer this question, it is necessary to know how WHO goes about its work in relation to the problems confronting it in these two regions. The scientific activities of WHO fall within two major categoriescentral technical services and advisory services to governments. The former include the collection and dissemination of intelligence regarding epidemic diseases and the standardization of biological products, such as insulin, the hormones, the vitamins, vaccines and sera. These activities entail the pooling of knowledge and experience obtained from various countries, which are then available on an equal basis to all countries through WHO publications. The advisory services to governments are specific services provided in response to requests for assistance. The latest knowledge and skills needed for the solution of particular health problems or for general strengthening and improvement of local health or medical services can be placed at the disposal of governments. The advisory services are provided through the regional staffs of the Organization. Unlike the United Nations and the other Specialized Agencies, WHO now operates through six regional offices in