ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the strengths and weaknesses of efforts to promote global health through international organizations, with a focus on the United Nations (UN) organs and programs. It also explains the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) as an important example of global health promotion efforts within the UN system. The chapter examines the global campaign to eradicate smallpox, a success story coordinated and led by the WHO, as an example of an effective top-down effort to promote global health. A wide range of international organizations, including UN bodies, multilateral development banks, and regional organizations, are involved in global efforts to promote public health. The examination of the WHO and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) illustrates the potential advantages and disadvantages of working through international organizations to promote global health. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the health-related provisions of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
