In the 2001 awards, the second edition of WHO's Management of severe malaria: a practical handbook has been highly commended in the medicine category - the largest category in the competition. In another category, surgery and anaesthesia, WHO was commended for the second edition of its Anaesthesia at the district hospital.

The reviewer of the malaria book commented: "Like many WHO publications it is of the highest standard" while the anaesthesia title was described as "practical, sensible and exactly suited for the intended audience".

In 2000, WHO won first prize in the public health category of the BMA competition for its book, Safe management of wastes from health-care activities.

In 1998, when it first entered the competition, WHO won first prize in the same category for Vector control: methods for use by individuals and communities. This title was subsequently named Medical Book of the Year. In the same year, WHO was commended for Strategies for the prevention of blindness in national programmes: a primary health care approach (second edition).

Dr Susan Holck, Director of the Department of Health Information, Management and Dissemination at WHO in Geneva, said: "We are very proud to have figured prominently once more among the BMA competition prizewinners. WHO has always aimed to publish top quality books on a wide range of health subjects, and these latest awards confirm that we are providing vital, expert information for health professionals around the world."

All of the above books are available from: WHO, Marketing and Dissemination, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland, Telephone no. (41-22) 791 2476, Fax (41-22) 791 4857, E-mail: bookorders@who.int   The ordering information is provided below.