A detailed, illustrated history of the work of the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean over the past four decades. Drawing upon a wide range of published and unpublished sources, the book tells the story of successes and failures, changing patterns of disease and evolving health strategies in a part of the world undergoing rapid development. The book marks the first time that the history of international health work in this area has been fully recorded and interpreted. The book contains 28 chapters presented in three main parts. The first traces the history and evolution of WHO and EMRO, moving from the origins of international health cooperation to the challenges and priorities that characterized health work during the 1980s. Chapters in the second part concentrate on the special health problems of Eastern Mediterranean countries. These range from the plight of the Palestinian refugees to health regulations governing the Mecca pilgrimage. Other topics include the special problem of traditional practices that harm women and children, efforts to combat prejudice against the mentally ill, and the new health problems created by changing lifestyles. The final part explains how the Regional Office operates, in partnership with a vast number of individuals and institutions, to contribute to the global work of WHO.