Role of WHO Arabic Programme in scaling up the Arabic language

Abstract

The World Health Organization Arabic Programme (WAP), a global programme hosted by the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) since the 1980s, is concerned with presenting a clear and sound view of WHO and its efforts to promote health throughout the world. This is achieved through translating WHO basic documents, presenting WHO activities in Arabic, meeting the needs of countries for new and reliable information in all areas of health, developing scientific terminology, and institutionalizing health technology in the Arab countries. WAP has collaborated with the Arab Medical Union, the Arab Health Ministers Council, Arabic language academies and unions of health professions, as well as universities and health science teaching institutes. This paper details the role of WAP in promoting Arabic in the field of health.