Following five years of working relations the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) was admitted into official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) as a non-governmental organization or NGO in January 1997. The significance of this, and of the work of the WHO, is summarized below:

What is WHO

The WHO is the United Nations agency responsible for directing and coordinating international work related to health. It was established in 1948 and has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Its annual meeting, called the World Health Assembly, is held in Geneva at the UN Palais des Nations each May. WHO is widely regarded as the most successful body in the UN system.

It has been a success because it has had the unanimous support of governments throughout the world, and because it has combined three resources in a strong tripartite structure:

National Governments: Countries are the voting members of WHO and provide funding for its core budget. WHO's Executive Board comprises representatives of country members, elected by them.

Non-governmental Organizations: These provide many of the human, technical and financial resources which the WHO relies upon for its work. At present there are approximately 180 NGOs in official relations with WHO, including charitable organizations (e.g. Aga Khan Foundation, OXFAM, Rotary International, Save the Children Fund, World Vision International) and international organizations representing stakeholders in health care (e.g. International Council of Nurses, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Associations, the World Federation of Chiropractic and the World Federation of Public Health Associations).

To become an NGO an organization must satisfy strict criteria with respect to structure and functions and must engage in joint projects with WHO that support the overall goals of WHO. Admission into official relations follows periods of informal contact and then working relations.

WHO Administration: This comprises the Geneva Headquarters, regional secretariats in six world regions (Africa, Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South East Asia and Western Pacific) and an extensive network of field officers and workers.

WHO Mission
The mission or aim appearing in the WHO constitution is "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health". Specific responsibilities listed in the constitution include:

• To stimulate the eradication of epidemic, endemic and other diseases;
• To promote improved nutrition, housing, sanitation, working conditions and other aspects of environmental hygiene;
• To foster cooperation among scientific and professional groups which contribute to the advancement of health;
• To propose international conventions and agreements in health matters;
• To promote and conduct research in the field of health;
• To develop international standards for food, biological and pharmaceutical products and
• To assist in developing an informed public opinion among all peoples on matters of health.
  
  

The WFC at the WHO

When WFC representatives commenced contacts with WHO in Geneva in 1988 they found that WHO had no knowledge of the chiropractic profession or its growing recognition and contribution to health throughout the world.

This was significant for several reasons, including the fact that most governments and their Ministries of Health turn to WHO for advice on matters of legislation relating to health professions. In addition WHO was sponsoring international meetings in areas of importance to the chiropractic profession without any chiropractic representation in areas such as health human resources or manpower planning, and the management of patients with occupational low-back pain.

Additionally, the chiropractic profession was doing nothing to support the important goals and activities of WHO.

In the years since 1988 that has changed, and collaborative work between the WFC and WHO has included:

Co-sponsorship of Scientific Meetings: WHO has co-sponsored WFC interdisciplinary symposia on Low-Back Pain (London 1993) and The Cervical Spine (Tokyo 1997) and Chiropractic Education (Philippines, 1998).

Technical Information and Publications: The WFC has provided various technical papers to WHO, such as Legislative Approaches to the Regulation of the Chiropractic Profession (to the WHO Office of Health Legislation) and The Chiropractic Profession: Principles, Education, Research and Regulation.

Representation at WHO Regional and Technical Meetings: As an NGO the WFC is invited to all regional annual meetings and relevant technical meetings, and it has participated in many of these.

WFC Public Health Committee. To support WHO’s goals and policies, and to assist in the development and monitoring of collaborative activities between WHO and WFC, the WFC has a Health-for-All Committee. This is chaired by Rand Baird DC MPH from the United States and has the following representatives of each world region:

Chairperson:	Rand Baird, DC, MPH, Corona, CA, USA
Africa	Evalie Heath, DC, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Asia	Bruce Vaughan, DC, Hong Kong SAR China
Eastern Mediterranean	Efstathios Papadopoulos, DC, Cyprus
Europe	Anthony Metcalfe, DC, London, England
Latin America	Sira Borges, DC, MD, Ilheus, Brazil
North America	Deborah Kopansky-Giles, DC, Toronto, Canada Gary Auerbach, DC, Arizona, USA Ron Kirk, DC, Georgia, USA
Pacific	Inger Villadsen, DC, Newcastle, Australia
Ex officio	Mr David Chapman-Smith WFC Secretary-General
Expert Advisor	Medhat Alattar, MD, DC

Advice to National Governments: At the annual World Health Assembly and throughout the year the WHO facilitates and refers contacts from national governments which have enquiries concerning the recognition and regulation of chiropractic education and practice.

Council of International Organizations for Medical Sciences (CIOMS): CIOMS is the NGO affiliated with WHO which serves the scientific interests of the international biomedical community, and coordinates its activities. CIOMS has particularly close links with WHO, where it has its offices, since it was established in 1949 with financial assistance from WHO and the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organization (UNESCO). CIOMS, of which the WFC is a member, plays a significant role in allowing WHO to fulfil its constitutional responsibility "to foster cooperation among scientific and professional groups which contribute to the advancement of health."

WHO Website

For more information on the WHO, visit its Website at www.who.int  NoNotes No