International work in endemic treponematoses and venereal infections 1948–1963
Overview
In the programme against venereal infections proposed by the Interim Commission of WHO and adopted by the first World Health Assembly in 1948, priority was given to the control of early syphilis. This programme was subsequently extended to include the non-venereal endemic treponematoses of childhood (tropical yaws, endemic syphilis, and pinta), in view of their microbiological, immunological, and other relationships, and their uniform response to penicillin. It was decided to give attention to gonococcal infections and "minor" venereal diseases only when special problems arose.
The WHO programme on the endemic treponematoses of childhood and the venereal diseases is guided by the views of the relevant expert committees, subcommittees, and special groups, which make recommendations on technical policies and procedures to the Director General, the Organization, and health administrations, and by the views of symposia, international or inter-country meetings, etc. convened by WHO to facilitate the coordination and exchange of information and the application of these policies and procedures.