An international sanitary conference was held in Venice in 1892, promoted in part by the spread of
Asiatic cholera earlier in that century. These efforts were hampered by the Second World War, during which
UNRRA also played a role in international health initiatives. The
Indian politician
Jawaharlal Nehru also gave his opinion in favour of starting WHO. In February 1946, the
Economic and Social Council of the United Nations helped draft the constitution of the new body. The draft constitution began to be signed by representative of 61 countries in June 1946, to come into force when ratified by 26 countries. Until that happened, an Interim Commission of 18 countries would prepare. The use of the word "world", rather than "international", emphasised the truly global nature of what the organization was seeking to achieve. The transfer was authorized by a Resolution of the
General Assembly. The ''Office International d'Hygiène Publique'' was incorporated into the Interim Commission of the World Health Organization on 1 January 1947. The first meeting
World Health Assembly finished on 24 July 1948, having secured a budget of US$5 million (then GBP£1,250,000) for the 1949 year. Dr.
Andrija Stampar was the Assembly's first president, and Dr.
G. Brock Chisholm was appointed Director-General of WHO, having served as Executive Secretary during the planning stages. ==References==