ARCHIVED - World Health Organization

Background

• Established in 1946, Canada was the Third Member State to ratify the Constitution on August 29, 1946
• A Canadian Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Brock Chisholm, became WHO's first Director General
• Canada's points of intervention occur during the World Health Assembly, at the Executive Board, Regional Committees and by participating in the work of technical groups; Tropical Diseases Research, Human Reproduction and Child Health and Development. Technical input is with Health Canada
• International Affairs Directorate is the primary contact for WHO in Canada
• The Directorate performs a representation and co-ordination function for the Canadian Health Sector - Health Canada, other federal agencies, the provinces, universities and the NGO sector
• Support increasing involvement by line branches in the technical work of WHO and its programmes (International Agency on Cancer, International Program on Chemical Safety, etc)

Current Issues of Greater Significance for Canada

• Restructuring and reorganization
• Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
• Health system development and evaluation
• Women's health and gender awareness
• Global disease surveillance
• Non-communicable disease prevention and control