World Health Organization

The Executive Board of the World Health Organization held its eleventh session in Geneva, January 12–February 4, 1953, and nominated Dr. G. M. Candau of Brazil to succeed Dr. Brock Chisholm as Director-General when the latter's term expired in July; final action on the appointment of a new Director-General, as well as on other board recommendations, was to be taken by the WHO Assembly at the session scheduled to open on May 5. In connection with the participation of WHO in the United Nations technical assistance program, the board considered the effects of possible cuts in WHO's share of available funds. The Chairman (Jafar) noted that “health has been given a ‘back number’ in the sphere of socio-economic development”. He noted that total technical aid funds committed by WHO for the current year totaled nearly $10 million; to inform participating governments and organizations that WHO could no longer meet its commitments, Mr. Jafar continued, “will mean a reversal of policy which has encouraged national governments a great deal so far”. Other points emphasized by the board were: 1) that health projects required long forward planning on the parts of WHO and the governments concerned; 2) that the technical assistance program was one of the most important developments of the century and had been received everywhere with approval; 3) that rigid priorities for health programs were impossible since each government had to determine for itself what schemes were needed to develop its own health services; 4) that continued long-term planning would be needed in order to allow the Technical Assistance Board to know what funds would be received; 5) that reduction of administrative machinery was necessary; and 6) that in 30 months of technical assistance, WHO had received about $3 million in 1951 and $5.5 million in 1952.