At the end of last year, we wrote of the achievements of Lifting The Burden (LTB) in its conduct of the Global Campaign against Headache [1]. In the time since, a notable event has occurred. Earlier in that year, LTB was invited by the World Health Organization (WHO) to apply for admission into Official Relations with it. LTB duly did so and, in January 2011, the Executive Board of WHO considered and approved the application [2]. LTB joins about 190 other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide. Without question, this is an added marker of LTB鈥檚 considerable success in its formative years. It is the outcome of an objective and dispassionate assessment by WHO鈥檚 Executive Board not only of LTB鈥檚 track record but also of its future promise. This reflection, however, is introspective. What does it mean for headache? First, it is further acknowledgment by WHO that headache disorders are major causes of public ill-health. This is important: WHO is responsible for 鈥減roviding 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鈥?[3]. We want headache to be not simply in WHO鈥檚 consciousness but among its priorities. Official Relations are the only formal relations recognized by WHO [4]. According to its Constitution, a principal function of WHO 鈥渋s to act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work鈥? in support of which it 鈥渕ay make suitable arrangements for consultation and cooperation with NGOs in carrying out its international health work鈥?[4]. More specifically, the objectives of WHO鈥檚 relations with NGOs 鈥渁re to promote the policies, strategies and activities of WHO and, where appropriate, to collaborate with NGOs in jointly agreed activities to implement them鈥?[5]. Official Relations are the basis of a long-term partnership in a shared cause, which here is reduction of the burden of headache worldwide. Under the terms of Official Relations, a work-plan of activities is agreed, and in LTB鈥檚 case these are key activities of the Global Campaign against Headache. Second, it gives headache louder voice within WHO, and in the circle of WHO鈥檚 other partners. This is important, too. It is through WHO that migraine was included in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2000 [6], and again through WHO that LTB was asked to collaborate in the new Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 [7] and secured inclusion this time of tension-type headache and medication-overuse headache. Among the privileges conferred by Official Relations is entitlement to appoint a representative to participate, without right of vote, in WHO鈥檚 meetings [5]. Third, it gives headache voice in political circles [8鈥?span class="CitationRef">11]. It is not easy for NGOs to capture the attention of politicians, but this has to be done. Little can be achieved in translating the important discoveries of headache research into treatments administered to people with headache unless policy-makers create the health services that make these treatments available. It remains the case that the lives of the vast majority of people with headache in the world are untouched by the advances of the last 20years. For the Global Campaign, acceptance into Official Relations with WHO is a milestone. For collaborators in the Campaign鈥檚 programme of activities, it is a major encouragement and a spur to new ventures. For people with headache, it means the Campaign can work better on their behalf and is a promise of enhanced effectiveness in its efforts [1, 12, 13]. The fruits will be borne in the next years.
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