The WHO Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol
Alcohol and Alcoholism Vol. 46, No. 3, p. 223, 2011 doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agr035
EDITORIAL
The WHO Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol
Jonathan Chick*
The World Health Organization was established in 1948.
From its inception, it urged Member States to take all
measures to control the scourge of centuries, smallpox.
Evidence already existed on the methods required. In 1953,
the first Director-General failed to persuade the World
Health Assembly to undertake this. It was not until 1958 that
a Soviet delegate persuaded the Assembly to accept responsibility
for a global eradication programme.
By 1966, the
World Health Assembly agreed that continuing smallpox
spread in several countries was intolerable and eventually,
over the next 10 years, sustained efforts by many health
workers achieved the goal of global eradication.
