WHO

Sara Cely and Paola Ruiz
World Health Organization

Delegates,
Welcome to the forth Model United Nations of Colegio Gran Bretaña. You are part of the World Health Organization, which, in the United Nations system, is the coordinating authority for health issues. Your president will be Sara Cely, who has been either president or vice-president in all of the MUNs of CGB. Your vice-president will be Paola Ruiz, who has had experience in this commission since she entered the school two years ago. We strongly encourage you to give your best during the three days of the model, as well as in your research and planning time.

The first topic to debate is, ‘treatment and prevention of drug addiction and alcoholism in youth’. As you are aware, it is an issue very concerning worldwide; approximately 5,000 young people under age die every year due to underage drinking, and 6.3 percent of the teens between 12 and 17 years old use marijuana. This is only in the US. The WHO is very active concerning alcoholism and drug abuse congresses, conventions, events and discussions along with other foundations, organizations and areas of the United Nations, such as the 54th UN session on Narcotic Drugs, and the Global Alcohol Policy Conference that will be held the last days of November. Different countries are implementing successful strategies to prevent drug addiction and alcoholism and, even though various movements are taking place, there are still a lot of things to be done, and you delegates, have now the opportunity to come up with viable solutions to help these issues.

The second topic in discussion will be ‘family planning, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases’. This topic is rather relevant and contemporary due to the fact that without the knowledge on these aspects, sexually transmitted diseases will continue to infect a large percentage of the population. Until today, the WHO has developed several missions and programs such as the SDI, which is a centre of diagnostic development of sexually transmitted infections, and the main purpose of this mission is to use appropriate health care setting in developing countries. The World Health Organization states that, "in developing countries, STDs and their complications are amongst the top five disease categories for which adults seek health care. In women of childbearing age, STDs (excluding HIV) are second only to maternal factors as causes of disease, death and healthy life lost". Also, the WHO along with other areas of the United Nations has come to great achievements concerning the most common STD in the world, HIV. Since more than 5 million people have had access to HIV treatment in 2009, AIDS-related deaths have been reduced by more than 20% in the last 5 years. The main achievement still to be accomplished is the absolute elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015. However, there are still many issues to be resolved concerning this matter and it is your job, delegates, to come up with solutions assuming your country’s position.

Delegates, drug addiction and alcoholism in youth as well as the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases are not issues to be underestimated, action has to be taken and solutions have to arise. It is your job to unravel these issues and take advantage of this opportunity to change the world. Please take into account that if you have any doubts, you should not hesitate in contacting your President or Vice-President. Remember that this is a cultural, creative and didactic activity. It will help us develop as individuals when facing relevant and prevailing issues concerning society.
We wish you the best of luck,
Sara Cely and Paola Ruiz

Here are some useful websites to enhance your research:
1) http://www.un.org
2) http://www.who.int/en/
3) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
4) http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/alcoholdrug/index.htm
5) http://www.drug-addiction-support.org/Teen-Drug-Abuse-1.html
6) http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/consumer/10216.html
7) http://www.avert.org/std-statistics.htm
8) http://www.familyplanning.org/stdcapprog.shtml