TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF
WORLD
HEALTH ORGANIZATION
On this auspicious occasion of the celebration of the Tenth Anniversary of the establishment of the World Health Organization in most countries of the world, it is fitting and proper to bear in mind the lofty ideals of the Organization as set forth in the Preamble to its Constitution.
The purpose of the Organization is, in
essence, the securing of the “highest attainable standard of health” to every
human being “without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic
or social position.” As we all know, disease is one of deadliest enemies of
mankind. But, thanks to the progress achieved in the field of medical science
during this century, man is now no longer a defenceless victim against all
types of disease. Today we have a World Health Organization to co-ordinate the
knowledge accruing from medical science that has been inherited from
individuals such as Louis Pasteur, Sir Alexander Fleming and Konrad Roentgen,
who have devoted their lives to free mankind from the scourge of disease. The
Organization assists member countries in planning and organizing their health
programmes, and thus helps to bring the benefits of medical science to those
who suffer from disease. This is not only of inestimable value to the
individual countries to which the Organization extends advisory, technical and
material assistance, but also to the entire world at large – for in this age of
swift travel facilities, it is evident that our world has contracted in its
relative geographic position and, consequently, the outbreak of a contagious
disease in one country is a danger to the rest of the world. Hence the
necessity for every country to enforce international health regulations as
prescribed by the World Health Organization.
W.H.O. Co-operates
We
are happy to state that the World Health Organization has co-operated with Our
Ministry of Public Health in planning and organizing a number of important
public health projects in Our Empire and in granting scholarships and
fellowships to enable Ethiopians to pursue specialized studies in the general
field of medicine and public health. Some of these young men and women, who
have benefited by the grants are already rendering valuable service in our
Empire. Furthermore, Our Ministry of Public Health has an extensive health
programme which is to be realized with the co-operation of World Health
Organization specialists in Ethiopia. We are confident that the co-operation of
the Organization with Our Government will grow and become even more fruitful in
the years that lie ahead.
In as much as the United Nations Organization
is vital in matters of world peace and international understanding, so its
Specialized Agencies are likewise indispensable to the cause of international
well-being in that they endeavour to resolve the economic, social and
humanitarian problems of the international community. In this respect, the role
played by the World Health Organization has been of considerable humanitarian
value. It is, therefore, appropriate that, as the World Health Organization
celebrates its Tenth Anniversary, we should all join in renewing our faith in
the Organization and in pledging our unwavering moral and material support in
its universal fight against disease – the common enemy of mankind.
Apr. 7, 1958.
Selected
Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 541 –
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