Principal Guidelines
About WHO Guidelines
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public healthcare. It was established on 7 April 1948, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group. Its predecessor, the Health Organization, was an agency of the League of Nations.
The constitution of the World Health Organization had been signed by 63 countries on 7 April 1948, with the first meeting of the World Health Assembly finishing on 24 July 1948. It incorporated the Office International d'Hygiène Publique and the League of Nations Health Organization. Since its creation, it has played a leading role in the eradication of smallpox. Its current priorities include communicable diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS, Ebola, malaria and tuberculosis; the mitigation of the effects of non-communicable diseases such as sexual and reproductive health, development, and aging; nutrition, food security and healthy eating; occupational health; substance abuse; and driving the development of reporting, publications, and networking.
The WHO's Constitution states that its objective "is the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health."
The WHO fulfills this objective through its functions as defined in its Constitution:
(a) To act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work.
(b) To establish and maintain effective collaboration with the United Nations, specialized agencies, governmental health administrations, professional groups and such other organizations as may be deemed appropriate.
(c) To assist governments, upon request, in strengthening health services.
(d) To furnish appropriate technical assistance and, in emergencies, necessary aid upon the request or acceptance of Governments.
(e) To provide or assist in providing, upon the request of the United Nations, health services and facilities to special groups, such as the peoples of trust territories.
(f) To establish and maintain such administrative and technical services as may be required, including epidemiological and statistical services.
(g) To stimulate and advance work to eradicate epidemic, endemic and other diseases.
(h) To promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary, the prevention of accidental injuries.
(i) To promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary, the improvement of nutrition, housing, sanitation, recreation, economic or working conditions and other aspects of environmental hygiene.
(j) To promote co-operation among scientific and professional groups which contribute to the advancement of health.
(k) To propose conventions, agreements and regulations, and make recommendations with respect to international health matters and to perform.
The WHO has defined its role in public health as follows:
• Providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in partnerships where joint action is needed.
• Shaping the research agenda and stimulating the generation, translation, and dissemination of valuable knowledge.
• Setting norms and standards and promoting and monitoring their implementation.
• Articulating ethical and evidence-based policy options.
• Providing technical support, catalyzing change, and building sustainable institutional capacity.
• Monitoring the health situation and assessing health trends.
About NIN Guidelines
National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) has attained global recognition for its pioneering studies on various aspects of nutrition research, with special reference to protein energy malnutrition (PEM). Institute’s activities are broad-based, encompassing the whole area of food and nutrition. The Institute has achieved close integration in its research activities between the laboratory, the clinic and the community.
The emphasis shifted to problem-oriented research, with a view to discovering practical solutions to nutrition problems that can be applied within the existing socio-economic framework. National Institute of Nutrition, over the eighty years of glorious service to the nation, has to its credit an impressive record of achievements in the amelioration of several nutritional disorders of our people.
Objectives are as follows:
1. Identify various dietary and nutrition problems prevalent among different segments of the population in the country.
2. Continuously monitor diet and nutrition situation of the country.
4. Conduct operational research connected with planning and implementation of national nutrition programs.
5. Dovetail nutrition research with other health programs of the government.
6. Human resource development in the field of nutrition.
7. Disseminate nutrition information.
8. Advise governments and other organizations on issues relating to nutrition
About ICMR Guidelines
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, is one of the oldest and largest medical research bodies in the world. The ICMR is funded by the Government of India through the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. ICMR’s 26 National Institutes address themselves to research on specific health topics like tuberculosis, leprosy, cholera and diarrhea diseases, viral diseases including AIDS, malaria, kala-azar, vector control, nutrition, food & drug toxicology, reproduction, immunohematology, oncology, medical statistics, etc. Its six Regional Medical Research Centers address themselves to regional health problems, and also aim to strengthen or generate research capabilities in different geographic areas of the country. The Council's research priorities coincide with National health priorities such as control and management of communicable diseases, fertility control, maternal and child health, control of nutritional disorders, developing alternative strategies for health care delivery, containment within safety limits of environmental and occupational health problems; research on major non-communicable diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, blindness, diabetes and other metabolic and hematological disorders; mental health research and drug research (including traditional remedies). These efforts are undertaken with a view to reduce the total burden of disease and to promote health and well-being of the population.
About RDA Guidelines
Recommended Dietary Allowance: The RDA, the estimated amount of a nutrient (or calories) per day considered necessary for the maintenance of good health by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council/ National Academy of Sciences. RDA is generally accepted throughout the world as a valid source of information. At least 40 different nations have as well as organizations have published standards similar to the RDA. RDAs apply to vitamins and minerals from food and daily supplements. The purpose of these guidelines is to inform you how much of a specific nutrient your body needs on a daily basis. It is important to meet your daily recommended dietary allowances so that your body gets everything it needs to function. Food manufacturers are required to list the percent daily value of RDAs for certain nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron. Some manufacturers may list other nutrients if they desire and enrich their products to boost nutritional value. Additionally, schools, prisons, hospitals and other institutions use recommended dietary allowances to create nutritious recipes and healthful meals. The RDA is updated periodically to reflect new knowledge. It is popularly called the Recommended Daily Allowance.