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First Recorded Conference
The first International Sanitary Conference convenes in Paris in response to cholera outbreaks. This is noted as the first coordinated global effort to prevent and fight disease. This is the first in a series of meetings by the conference that takes place from 1851 to 1938. -
Bubonic Plague
The International Sanitary Conference passes another convention to deal with bubonic plague -
Established in Paris
The International Health Office is established in Paris. The organization holds no power or authority to act on its own. Its mission is to collect and distribute information with various national health departments around the world. -
League of Nations
The League of Nations Health Committee and Health Section is established. It would become known as one of the more successful auxiliary organizations of the League of Nations -
WHO established
The World Health Organization (WHO) is established as part of the United Nations. It is the first specialized organization of the new United Nations that every participating nation supported. -
The International Classification of Disease is published
This is the global standard to report and categorize diseases, health-related conditions, and external causes of disease and injury. -
TB Immunization
Mass TB immunization program begins. -
Eradicate Smallpox
The Soviet Union’s Deputy Health Minister calls upon the WHO to eradicate smallpox. Two million people per year were dying of smallpox at that time. -
The Special Programme
The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases is established to help coordinate, support and influence global efforts to combat neglected infectious diseases that disproportionately affect poor and marginalized populations. -
Publish Medicine
The WHO publishes its list of essential medicines that will satisfy a society’s priority healthcare needs -
HIV/AIDS
WHO begins its global program on HIV/AIDS -
Leprosy
The World Health Assembly adopts a resolution to eliminate leprosy. -
Global Outbreak Alert Established
The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network is established to detect and combat the international spread of outbreaks. -
Global Fund
The global fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria is created. -
America
The US announces its intent to leave the World Health Organization