The World Health Organization came into existence when its constitution took effect after being ratified by twenty-six member states of the United Nations. The constitution had been adopted at an international conference in New York in 1946, and it defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease. The organisation has its headquarters in Geneva, and its first Director-General was the Canadian psychiatrist Brock Chisholm. It coordinates international responses to epidemics, sets health standards and supports national health systems. Its largest success was the global campaign that led to the declaration in 1980 that smallpox had been eradicated. The anniversary of its founding is celebrated each year as World Health Day.
Before and after
- 9 March 1948Death of Edgar de Wahl
- 20 March 1948Birth of John de Lancie
- 31 March 1948Birth of Al Gore
- from 3 April 1948 to 1 December 1951Marshall Plan
- 7 April 1948Founding of World Health Organization
- 9 April 1948Deir Yassin massacre
- 13 April 1948Hadassah medical convoy massacre
- 16 April 1948Founding of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
- 14 May 1948Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel
More in Society, economy & sport
- 22 March 1945Founding of Arab League
- 27 December 1945Founding of World Bank
- 14 September 1960Founding of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
- 1994Rise of Taliban
- 1 January 1995Founding of World Trade Organization
- 4 February 2004Founding of Facebook
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.