About International & National Health Agencies
Chapter 10 is the agency-mapping chapter of the GNM 3rd-year and B.Sc Community Health Nursing curriculum. It teaches you which organisation funds, implements, monitors or advises on which health programme in India and across the world. This is a high-scoring, memorisation-heavy topic — every university paper carries at least one essay or two short notes from this unit.
Why Nurses Must Know These Agencies
A staff nurse at a sub-centre may administer a Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine procured through UNICEF, treat a severely-malnourished child using WHO growth standards, deliver antenatal services under UNFPA-supported RMNCH+A, and refer a tuberculosis case to a Global Fund-financed NTEP clinic — all before lunch. Understanding each agency’s mandate, year of founding, headquarters and flagship programmes is therefore not academic trivia but a working map of global & national public health.
Section Breakdown
The index below divides the chapter into two parts: 10.1 International Agencies (WHO, UNFPA, UNDP, World Bank, FAO, UNICEF, DANIDA, EU, USAID, UNESCO, ILO, CARE) and 10.2 National Agencies (Indian Red Cross Society, Indian Council for Child Welfare, FPAI and major NGOs). Study each with a simple template: Founded in → HQ → Mandate → Flagship programmes in India → Role of nurse in liaising with them.
Learn about key International & National Health Agencies in Community Health Nursing. Essential notes for 3rd-year GNM Nursing students!
INDEX
| Chapter 10: International and National Health Agencies | Sections |
|---|---|
| 10.1. International Health Agencies | |
| 10.1.1 | WHO (World Health Organization) |
| 10.1.2 | UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) |
| 10.1.3 | UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) |
| 10.1.4 | World Bank |
| 10.1.5 | FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) |
| 10.1.6 | UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) |
| 10.1.7 | DANIDA (Danish International Development Agency) |
| 10.1.8 | European Commission (EU) |
| 10.1.9 | USAID (United States Agency for International Development) |
| 10.1.10 | UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) |
| 10.1.11 | ILO (International Labour Organization) |
| 10.1.12 | CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere) |
| 10.2. National Health Agencies | |
| 10.2.1 | Indian Red Cross Society |
| 10.2.2 | Indian Council for Child Welfare |
| 10.2.3 | Family Planning Association of India |
| 10.2.4 | Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) |
Must-Remember Facts
- WHO — founded 7 April 1948; HQ Geneva; India is in the South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), New Delhi.
- UNICEF — founded 1946; procures > 50% of the world’s vaccines for children.
- UNFPA — leads sexual and reproductive health, Family Planning 2030 goals.
- Indian Red Cross Society — founded 1920; headed by the President of India as Chairperson.
- FPAI — founded 1949; India’s oldest family-planning NGO; affiliated to IPPF.
Download our one-page comparison chart of all health agencies for last-minute revision.
Sources & References: WHO official country briefs; UNICEF India Annual Report; Indian Red Cross Society official site; K. Park, Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine.
COURSES
Educational Disclaimer
The information in this article is provided for educational and informational purposes only, aimed at students and faculty in Nursing, Medical, Paramedical, and allied Health Science programmes. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and must not replace guidance from a qualified physician, nurse, or licensed healthcare professional.
While we review all content carefully and align it with recognised syllabi (INC, RGUHS, state nursing councils), medical knowledge evolves rapidly. Always verify clinical procedures, drug doses, and protocols against your institution's current guidelines before applying them in patient care.
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