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WHO
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The World Health Organization (WHO) is the UN agency specializing in health issues.
Article I of WHO’s Constitution defines the objective of the organization as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health". Health is defined in the WHO Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The main strategic directions of WHO in Georgia, as well as in other countries in the world, are:
- reducing excess mortality, morbidity and disability, especially in poor and marginalized populations;
- promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing risk factors to human health that arise from environmental, economic, social and behavioural causes;
- developing health systems that equitably improve health outcomes, respond to people’s legitimate demands, and are financially fair;
- framing an enabling policy and creating an institutional environment for the health sector, and promoting an effective health dimension to social, economic, environmental and development policy.
 Georgia became a member of WHO on 16 May 1992. In 1993 a liaison office was opened in Tbilisi. In 2005 the name of the office was changed to WHO Country Office in Georgia. The WHO Country Office in Georgia is subordinated to the Regional Office for Europe. The Country Office plays a crucial role in administration, consolidation, management and enhancement of WHO collaboration in the country. It also contributes to interfacing between the government and WHO, assists in informing the government regarding WHO policies in a timely manner and elaborates strategies and activities while providing advice on healthcare sector development and inter-sectoral issues for health. The WHO Country Office implements its activities in the country in close collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, UN agencies, governmental and non-governmental organizations and is active in the healthcare sector.
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The overall goal of WHO in Georgia is to:
- assist the government in developing its national health policy and strengthening healthcare systems;
- provide appropriate technical assistance as needed; improve preparedness for emergency situations;
- promote improved standards of education and training in the healthcare sector
- provide evidence based expertise and information in the healthcare sector to take all necessary action to attain WHO’s objective.
 Priority Areas
WHO cooperates with individual countries in the frames of so called Biennial Collaborative Agreements (BCA). The BCA between the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/EURO) and the government of Georgia for 2010-2011 was elaborated through successive stages of talks between the national health authorities and the regional and country levels of WHO and signed in May 2009.
It focuses on the following priorities for cooperation:
- strengthening core healthcare system functions (primary health care, hospital management, health financing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare information, human resources);
- strengthening preparedness and response capacities for health emergencies;
- strengthening controls over the spread of major communicable diseases;
- reducing the burden of preventable, non-communicable diseases;
- strengthening mother and child health services and promoting environmental safety.
 The WHO contributes significantly to capacity-building in the country. Georgian medical professionals participate in WHO meetings, including conferences, workshops and trainings both in Georgia and outside the country, on a regular basis. WHO consultants regularly visit Georgia to provide technical assistance to local professionals in their efforts to meet the country’s needs and requirements. In line with WHO policy, the Georgian Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs actively participates in the work of WHO governing bodies, World Health Assemblies and Regional Committees, on a yearly basis.
The total development assistance earmarked for the Georgia Biennial Collaborative Agreement is USD 1,400,000. Additional support may be rendered from regional and global offices in the form of technical assistance, programme formulation and implementation, resource mobilization and monitoring.
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