Halfdan T. Mahler

Halfdan T. Mahler, born on 21 April 1923 at Vivild, is a Danish medical doctor.^[1] 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. ^{[2] [3]}

Career in WHO

In 1951, he joined the World Health Organization (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^[4]

References

1. ^ Den store Danske
2. ^ "Primary health care comes full circle. An interview with Dr Halfdan Mahler.". Bulletin of the World Health Organization (BLT) Volume 86, Number 10, October 2008, 737-816. http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/86/10/08-041008/en/index.html. Retrieved 2 March 2010. 
3. ^ Forstå hvordan befolkningen tænker. Portræt / interview: Halfdan Mahler Dagens Medicin, 26.10.2000, 1. sektion, Side 17
4. ^ "Halfdan T. Mahler Kubulus Alumni". Københavns Universitet. http://alumni.ku.dk/aeresalumni/8alumnier/halfdan_mahler/. Retrieved 2 March 2010.