III. READING

a. Fill in each blank with one appropriate word from the box.

campaigns task eradicated outbreaks agency

diseases discourage against

Established on 7 April 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized (36) ________ of the United Nations (UN) that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Its major (37) ________ is to combat disease, especially key infectious diseases, and to promote the general health of the people of the world. As well as coordinating international efforts to monitor (38) ________ of infectious diseases, such as SARS, malaria, and AIDS, the WHO also sponsors programs to prevent and treat such (39) ________. The WHO supports the development and distribution of safe and effective vaccines, pharmaceutical diagnostics, and drugs. After over 2 decades of fighting smallpox, the WHO declared in 1980 that the disease had been (40) ________- the first disease in history to be eliminated by human effort. The WHO is nearing success in developing vaccines (41) ________ malaria and schistosomiasis and aims to eradicate polio within the next few years. In addition to its work in eradicating disease, the WHO also carries out various health- related (42) ________- for example, to boost the consumption of fruits and vegetables worldwide and to (43) ________tobacco use.

The Red Cross is aimed ________ providing medical aid and other help to victims of natural disasters.