The World Health Organization (WHO) was established in 1948. The WHO is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and it belongs to the United Nations, helping to direct and coordinating action on matter related to health. Additionally, it belongs to the United Nations Development Group (UNDG), helping to extend the UN’s reach as to development on a national level. As an organization, the WHO comprises of 194 member states, each of which appoint a delegation to represent them in the World Health Assembly, the supreme decision-making body of the WHO.

The Assembly elects a Director-General, whose term lasts for 5 years. The current Director-General of the WHO is Dr. Margaret Chan from Hong Kong. The WHO also has executive board with 34 members, which are healthcare experts in some shape or form. Tenure at the Executive Board lasts for three years and is elected by a country given the mandate to do so for that round. The executive board produces reports and recommendations on various health issues, which are then discussed on at the Health Assembly. A secondary function is also to nominate possible candidates for the position of Director-General. WHO has 6 regional offices, 147 offices in various countries and also a presence in all of the 194 member states. Regional Directors are responsible for the running of the WHO offices in that region, and ultimately report to the Director-General

Since it’s inception, the WHO’s 6 core goals have been providing leadership on health issues, directing research agenda, creating healthcare norms and enforcing them, articulating ethical stances, providing technical support to states and monitoring situation and trends in health. The WHO has been instrumental in the eradication of diseases like smallpox, and reduced incidences of polio, malaria and measles. Current health issues that the WHO is greatly concerned about include HIV/Aids, maternal health in developing countries, and the prevalence of various strains of influenza.

Dr. Chan (whose mandate has been extended to 2017), states that “I want my leadership to be judged by the impact of our work on the health of two populations: women and the people of Africa.” The WHO committee in SMUN 2013 will be the World Health Assembly.

The Topic

Topic 1: Sexual and Reproductive Health

This topic is also very crucial to us because it is an essential topic, which must be addressed for the benefit of all. The topic can range from the issue of sexual health and diseases to the issue of post-birth care for mothers. To look at just one facet of the issue, contraception and abortion remains a contentious issue amongst many of the member states, being able to control when and how many children one might have has proven social and economic benefits. Yet it is very important that the member nations and their people are aware of the latest practices and advances in reproductive health, regardless of the population’s beliefs.

To list some of the bigger issue areas in this topic: family planning (which includes contraception and abortion), prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, female genital mutilation, violence against women and the health of mothers, adolescents and children. Despite these topics being taboo in some member states, it is important for the delegates to make a stance on these issues, looking at which ones that they consider the most pressing to address. The topic is especially poignant recalling that the focus of WHO during the current Director-General is to look at women and African health issues.

The Chair

Lian Yunlin Celestine

Hello delegates. My name is Celestine, and I will be serving as your head chair for the WHO for SMUN 2013. I am a 2^nd year political science undergraduate studying at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in NUS.

I’ve been involved in MUNs ever since I was 15 starting with THIMUN-Singapore.  Being a person who was very interested in the ‘big’ ideas like human rights or the issue of poverty, MUNs were to me a way to learn and practice how to look at huge, complex and tough issues and find ways to solve them. After that, I went to at least one MUN a year. In fact, MUNs have affirmed my desire to help the world, and was instrumental in choosing my major in school. I participated in SMUN once a long time ago in 2009, and it’s really exciting to be coming back to this event by chairing the WHO.

When I’m not busy with school or catching up with news from around the world, I play games (no, not Facebook ones L).

The Co-Chairs

Priscilla Goh

Hello delegates, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the World Health Organisation (WHO) at SMUN 2013. I am Priscilia Goh and I am honored to serve as your vice-chairperson of the WHO. Currently, I’m a sophomore at Singapore Management University studying Accountancy and Business.

Aside from SMUN, I have participated in various MUNs like The European International MUN (TEIMUN) in the Netherlands and of course, council sessions by my home university. However, what makes SMUN special is that this would be my first year chairing SMUN and I am really look forward to meeting my delegates. In my spare time, I enjoy travelling, good tea and conversation.

Kellynn Knor

Hey delegates! I am Kellynn, a Business and Public Policy concurrent degree undergraduate at NUS. Throughout the course of my studies, I have taken an interest in international relations and the role of multilateral organisations such as the UN in global affairs. This is my first time participating in a MUN ever and I am honoured to be your WHO co-chair.

When I’m not swamped with school (and even when I am), I enjoy sailing and watching too much television – especially delightfully melodramatic British period dramas. I look forward to meeting you in June, and hope that you will not only enjoy yourself, but also gain an invaluable experience at SMUN!

Links

The Department of Political Science offers a wide range of modules in the subfields of international relations, comparative politics, political theory, and public administration. It maintains particular strengths in the study of East and Southeast Asian politics while aiming to represent the whole range of the discipline.

Its curriculum covers a wide variety of topics, including political economy, public policy-making, political parties and elections, international ethics, and the history of political thought. Its modules stress independent thinking and conceptual analysis and aim to help students develop effective writing and speaking skills.

Students also acquire good research skills, including project design and data analysis. They are encouraged to think about how politics connects with the wider world, whether that means culture, religion, security, or development. And they have the opportunity to work with a faculty whose members are committed teachers as well as internationally prominent researchers.

One of the earliest established faculties in the University with its origins dating back to 1929, FASS is also one of the largest faculties at NUS, with an annual intake of about 1,900. More than 6,000 undergraduate students (including 500 exchange students), and close to 1,000 graduate students make up the student population. The Faculty also has more than 400 Faculty members and 160 executive and professional staff.

For more information, please refer to http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/

NUS Political Science Society was founded in 1967, mainly for the benefit of students majoring in Political Science. In recent years, membership has not been limited to PS majors, and many students from other disciplines who are interested in this field join us. We are not only serving as a bridge between the staff and students of the Department to enable mutual rapport and communication, but also undertaking numerous activities to raise the awareness of current affairs among the students – ranging from talks and forums to informal gatherings and Model UN Conferences.

For more information, please refer to http://www.nuspssoc.org

About APCME

Asia Pacific Centre of Management Education (APCME) is a leading education consulting firm, with a strong focus on the high school, tertiary and corporate education segment. We share values that place integrity and academic excellence at the very core of our consulting philosophy.

Based in Singapore, APCME offers customized education solutions to the clients’ through-out the Asia-Pacific region. We are an innovative and people-centered organization which understands today’s competitive business environment and brings innovative and world-class education solutions to help its clients achieve excellence in their business sector through growth and sustainability.

For more details, please visit,

http://www.apcme.com.sg

SMUN2012 Programme
http://www.singaporemun.org/important-dates/

Committee Emails
We are currently having problems with the specific committee emails.
As such, for any queries related to academics, please direct your email to the Under Secretary-General for Academics at usg.acad@singaporemun.org

UPDATE:

Sign up on 18th May with your special FASS Open House code and get $10 off for individual sign ups and $15 per person if you bring a friend along! HURRY!