The World Health Organization (WHO), based in Geneva, has asked Seventh-day Adventist health leaders to join its initial consultations as it prepares to renew partnerships with faith-based organizations.

After 30 years of shying away from such affiliation, WHO, under its new director-general, Dr. Margaret Chan, is actively seeking to reach groups that can more effectively implement global health goals, health officials said.

Adventist leaders and WHO officials said the Adventist Church was selected for its health message and for urging its churches to double as community health support centers.

"Seventh-day Adventists are known worldwide for being leaders in health and developers of community health care," said Dr. Ted Karpf, a WHO technical officer.

"This is a huge privilege to be part of the pilot group investigating working relationships of faith-based organizations with the World Health Organization," said Dr. Peter Landless, associate Health Ministries director for the Adventist world church.

Both Landless and Dr. Alan Handysides, Adventist Church Health Ministries director, were among the 16 participants representing religious organizations at the initial WHO-sponsored planning conference in Geneva last month.

"They have initiated this, it's a huge step, and it's an absolute blessing that a church the size of the Adventist Church has been invited to be part of the initial strategy planning in this whole process," Landless said.

WHO officials said the emphasis on partnering with FBOs is a result of new Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan's focus on Africa, women and primary care. Chan was appointed as Director-General by the World Health Assembly in November 2006

"We need to focus on where delivery of health services actually takes place," said Alex Ross, director for the Programme on Partnerships and UN Reform.

"Historically, FBO presence in the community is perhaps greater than a traditional medical model," Ross said, citing data that show at least 40 percent of healthcare in Africa is being delivered by the faith-based community. Partnering, he said, would recognize and coordinate work already being done by FBOs.

"I think Adventists, both the Seventh-day Adventist Church and by association [the Adventist Development and Relief Agency], were seen as being a very powerful force with a long history in this area and therefore have an enormous amount of experience to contribute," Ross said.

Adventist Health Ministries operates in more countries than any other religious denomination. Landless said the partnership will provide further opportunity to spread the Adventist health message among more communities.

Partnering with WHO will also likely allow the Adventist Church to collaborate with other world health conferences in Europe next year, Landless said.

"It has opened doors to further health work collaboration, which would include Adventist teaching institutions as well as our clinics and hospitals," Landless said.

The WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends. [Editors: Ansel Oliver and Christian B. Schaeffler for ANN/APD]