Halfdan T. Mahler
Encyclopedia
Halfdan T. Mahler, born on 21 April 1923 at Vivild
, is a Danish
medical doctor. Dr. Mahler served three terms as director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO)(1973-1988) and is widely known for his effort to combat tuberculosis and his role in shaping the landmark Alma Ata Declaration
that defined the Health for All by the Year 2000 strategy.
(WHO) and spent almost ten years in India
as Senior WHO Officer attached to the National Tuberculosis
Programme. From 1962, he was Chief of the Tuberculosis Unit at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva
until 1969, when he was appointed Director, Project Systems Analysis. In 1970, he was made Assistant Director-General of WHO while retaining the direction of Project Systems Analysis. In 1973, while occupying that position, Dr Mahler was elected WHO's third Director-General. He was re-elected for two successive five-year terms in 1978 and 1983 respectively. Under Dr Mahler, in 1979, the Thirty-second World Health Assembly launched the Global Strategy for Health for All by the Year 2000. He is honorary alumni of Copenhagen University
Vivild (town)
Vivild is a town located in Jutland, Denmark, with a population of 795 . It is a part of Norddjurs Municipality....
, is a Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
medical doctor. Dr. Mahler served three terms as director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO)(1973-1988) and is widely known for his effort to combat tuberculosis and his role in shaping the landmark Alma Ata Declaration
Alma Ata Declaration
The Declaration of Alma-Ata was adopted at the International Conference on Primary Health Care , Almaty , currently in Kazakhstan, 6-12 September 1978. It expressed the need for urgent action by all governments, all health and development workers, and the world community to protect and promote the...
that defined the Health for All by the Year 2000 strategy.
Career in WHO
In 1951, he joined the World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
(WHO) and spent almost ten years in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as Senior WHO Officer attached to the National Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
Programme. From 1962, he was Chief of the Tuberculosis Unit at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
until 1969, when he was appointed Director, Project Systems Analysis. In 1970, he was made Assistant Director-General of WHO while retaining the direction of Project Systems Analysis. In 1973, while occupying that position, Dr Mahler was elected WHO's third Director-General. He was re-elected for two successive five-year terms in 1978 and 1983 respectively. Under Dr Mahler, in 1979, the Thirty-second World Health Assembly launched the Global Strategy for Health for All by the Year 2000. He is honorary alumni of Copenhagen University