⚡ Quick Revision : Red Cross & WHO
1. The Red Cross
Founded by Henry Dunant in 1863, the Red Cross is a massive humanitarian organization. The Indian Red Cross Society was established in 1920.
Major Functions:
- Relief Work: Providing aid to victims of natural calamities (floods, earthquakes) and wars.
- Blood Banks: Organizing blood donation camps and maintaining blood supply.
- First Aid: Training people in emergency medical care.
- Maternal & Child Care: Providing health services in rural areas.
2. World Health Organization (WHO)
As the primary international health body under the UN, the WHO (headquartered in Geneva) works on a global scale.
Key Responsibilities:
- Disease Eradication: Global campaigns against Smallpox (successfully eradicated) and Polio.
- Standardization: Setting global standards for medicines, vaccines, and water quality.
- Publication: Sharing health data and warnings about potential pandemics.
- Training: Improving health services in developing nations by training personnel.
3. Symbols to Remember
| Organisation | Symbol Description |
|---|---|
| Red Cross | A red cross on a white background. |
| WHO | UN emblem with a staff and a snake (Staff of Asclepius). |
Question: Why is the WHO’s function of "collecting and spreading information" critical?
Answer: In the event of an outbreak (like Influenza or Cholera), the WHO alerts countries immediately so they can implement Quarantine and preventive measures to stop the disease from becoming a global pandemic.
The Red Cross is primarily for emergency and humanitarian aid (wars/disasters), while the WHO is for long-term policy and global health management.
⚡ Quick Revision : UNICEF & National Agencies
1. UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund)
Originally created to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries devastated by World War II, it now focuses on long-term humanitarian development.
Key Functions:
- Child Nutrition: Providing low-cost protein-rich food to prevent deficiency diseases.
- Immunization: Supplying vaccines for the "Big Six" diseases: TB, Polio, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, and Measles.
- Education: Assisting in the primary education of children, especially girls.
- Emergency Relief: Supplying medicines and food during natural disasters.
2. National Health Programmes in India
The Government of India runs several specialized programmes to combat specific diseases and improve the national health index.
- A. National Malaria Eradication Programme (NMEP): Focuses on spraying insecticides and distributing medicines in rural areas.
- B. National Tuberculosis Control Programme: Uses the DOTS strategy (Directly Observed Treatment Short-course) to ensure patients complete their medication.
- C. Pulse Polio Programme: Aimed at immunizing every child below 5 years of age to make India polio-free.
3. Other International Agencies
| Agency | Full Form | Main Health Role |
|---|---|---|
| FAO | Food and Agriculture Organisation | To raise levels of nutrition and standards of living. |
| UNESCO | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation | To improve health education and scientific research. |
Question: Why is the DOTS strategy emphasized for Tuberculosis treatment?
Answer: TB treatment is long (6-9 months). If a patient stops mid-way, the bacteria can become drug-resistant. In DOTS, a health worker personally supervises the patient swallowing their medicine to ensure 100% compliance.
UNICEF is dedicated solely to children and mothers. WHO covers the entire population across all age groups.