Selina Concise Solutions for ICSE Class 9 Biology Chapter 18 Health Organisations

Exercise 1

Question A.1:
Answer: (a) May 8
World Red Cross Day is celebrated annually on this date to honor the birth of Henry Dunant. He was the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the first Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Teacher's Tip: Remember "May 8th is Red Cross Plate" to help the date rhyme with the mission of helping others.
Exam Tip: Always specify the organization name alongside the date to ensure full marks.

Question A.2:
Answer: (c) Geneva
Geneva is a famous city in Switzerland that hosts many international agencies including the World Health Organization. Its central location in Europe makes it a neutral and accessible hub for global diplomacy.
Teacher's Tip: Think of Geneva as the "Global Doctor's Office" where the world's health is managed.
Exam Tip: Mention both the city (Geneva) and the country (Switzerland) for a complete and professional answer.

Question B.1:
Answer: Column I (Activity) - Column II (Organisation)
(i) To extend relief to victims of earthquake. - Red Cross
(ii) To lay pharmaceutical standards for important drugs. - WHO
(iii) Arranging ambulance in emergencies. - Red Cross
(iv) To suggest quarantine measures. - WHO
(v) Training of midwives. - Red Cross
(vi) Procuring and supplying blood for transfusion. - Red Cross
Each organization has a specialized role, with the Red Cross focusing on immediate emergency relief and the WHO focusing on global standards. Understanding these roles helps us know how global health is organized during both peace and crisis.
Teacher's Tip: If the activity involves "Rules or Standards," it is usually WHO; if it involves "Action or Blood," it is usually Red Cross.
Exam Tip: Rewrite the correct pairs side-by-side in your answer sheet instead of drawing messy crossing lines.

Question B.2:
Answer: The headquarters of WHO is located in Geneva.
A headquarters is the main administrative center from which an organization directs its worldwide operations. Geneva provides the necessary infrastructure and international environment for the WHO to lead global health efforts.
Teacher's Tip: Associate the "W" in WHO with the "W" in Switzerland to remember the location.
Exam Tip: Ensure you capitalize "WHO" as it is a proper acronym for an international body.

Question B.3:
Answer: (a) WHO: World Health Organization
(b) UNO: United Nations Organization
These full forms represent the large governing bodies that coordinate international cooperation on health, security, and human rights. Knowing these names is the first step in understanding how different countries work together to solve global problems.
Teacher's Tip: Use the words "World" and "United" to remember that these organizations involve everyone on the planet.
Exam Tip: Practice the spelling of "Organization" (with a 'z' or 's' as per your textbook) to avoid losing marks on scientific full forms.

Question C.1:
Answer: Health problems in India:
1. Food- and water-borne diseases: Contaminated food and water cause several diseases. Water-borne diseases occur due to contaminated water from hand pumps or mixing of untreated sewage with river water.
2. Insect- and air-borne diseases: Lack of cleanliness leads to breeding of houseflies and mosquitoes which are carriers of certain diseases.
3. Lack of medical facilities: Lack of medical facilities especially in rural areas leads to unavoidable deaths and damage to health. Lack of knowledge and superstitious beliefs also delay timely treatment which may result in serious consequences.
India faces significant health challenges due to environmental sanitation issues and limited access to healthcare in remote areas. Solving these problems requires a combination of better infrastructure and public education about hygiene.
Teacher's Tip: Think of "Environment, Insects, and Doctors" as the three main areas where Indian health needs improvement.
Exam Tip: When listing health problems, use specific categories like "Water-borne" or "Insect-borne" to show organized thinking.

Question C.2:
Answer: Functions of WHO:
1. To promote and support projects for research on diseases
2. To collect and supply information about the occurrence of diseases of an epidemic nature such as cholera, plague and yellow fever
The WHO acts as a global monitor that tracks how diseases spread and helps scientists find new ways to cure them. By sharing this data, they help countries prepare for potential health crises before they become unmanageable.
Teacher's Tip: Think of the WHO as the "Global Health Watchman" always looking out for the next outbreak.
Exam Tip: Mention specific examples like "cholera" or "yellow fever" when discussing disease information to show detailed knowledge.

Question C.3:
Answer: Functions of Red Cross:
1. To extend relief and help to the victims of any calamity - flood, fire, famine and earthquake
2. To procure and supply blood for needy victims of war and other calamities
3. To extend all possible first-aid in an accident
4. To arrange for ambulance services in emergencies
The Red Cross is primarily a humanitarian organization that provides direct physical assistance during times of war or natural disaster. Their work is based on the principle of neutrality, meaning they help everyone regardless of their background.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the "Four A's": Aid (relief), Ambulance, Accidents (first-aid), and Arteries (blood supply).
Exam Tip: Use the word "calamity" to describe the types of situations where the Red Cross provides help.

Question C.4:
Answer: Functions of World Health Organization (WHO):
1. To promote and support projects for research on diseases
2. To collect and supply information about the occurrence of diseases of epidemic nature such as cholera, plague and yellow fever
3. To lay pharmaceutical standards for important drugs, to ensure purity and size of the dose
4. To organise campaigns for the control of epidemic (widespread) and endemic (local) diseases
Beyond research, the WHO is responsible for ensuring that the medicines we take are safe and consistently manufactured. They also lead massive public health campaigns, like vaccination drives, to eliminate diseases from entire regions.
Teacher's Tip: WHO is the "Global Lab" and the "Medicine Inspector" for the whole world.
Exam Tip: Differentiate between "epidemic" and "endemic" to demonstrate a high level of scientific understanding.

Question D.1:
Answer: The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) which is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and is a member of the United Nations Development Group. Member countries of the UNO focused on the need for creating an international body to look after the health problems of the people of the world. This need was particularly felt in the field of research on the causes and cures of diseases. Combined efforts in this direction were to give better and faster results. Poor and developing countries were to benefit quickly.
The founding of the WHO marked a turning point in history where countries agreed that health is a global responsibility. By combining resources, the WHO helps smaller nations access the same medical technology and research as larger, wealthier ones.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the date "7th April" because it is also celebrated as World Health Day every year.
Exam Tip: When writing a short note on WHO, always include its relationship with the United Nations (UN).