[Evaluation of world health: current status]

In this first article dedicated to the balance of the world health, the author gives the main reasons which explain the spectacular growth of the world population. From 1950 to 1984, population increased by 93% shifting from 2.5 to 4.8 thousand millions among which 3.5 are living in Third World countries and 1.3 in industrialized ones. Then he studies the factors which originate the inequality of men in the face of disease and death, and gives some details on causes for mortality to-day. In industrialized countries, three fourth of deaths are due to two diseases, which are cardio-vascular diseases (48%), and cancer (19%), while in Third World countries, the major risk factors are transmissible diseases, malnutrition and lack of environmental hygiene. Infantile mortality makes it clear; out of 122 millions children born in 1980, according to WHO evaluation, more than 10 millions die before they get one year old, and 5 millions between one and five years of age. This inequality of people in the face of life and death is one of the biggest scandals of our time, especially because we have the technical means to reduce it. It will require a considerable effort from governments, international organizations and NGOs to reach the WHO object of "Health for All by the year 2000". These prospects for the future will be developed in the second part of this article to be published in a next issue of Hygie.