World Health Organization
Early in 2001 the Government approved the establishment of a permanent WHO country office. Before that, for several years, WHO maintained an emergency office in DPR Korea.
WHO’s objective is the attainment by all people’s the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO’s constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
In DPR Korea, WHO supports a number of initiatives, including:
- Control of diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis
- Eradication of polio
- Prevention of SARS
- Ensuring access to safe blood through the rehabilitation of blood centres in and outside of the capital
- Support to county hospitals and community ri-clinics by developing and delivering standardized kits of equipment and consumables
- Together with UNICEF, IFRC and UNFPA providing a List of Essential Medicines for the use of international agencies
- Strengthening of regular immunizations and cold chain in cooperation with UNICEF
- In-country training activities for health personnel, with particular attention to topics of public health
- Activities for the development of nursing and midwifery, medical education and tobacco control
