International Health and Biodefense

The State Department's Office of International Health Affairs (OES/IHB) protects U.S. security and global economic growth by promoting global health.

To accomplish this, IHB works with agencies throughout the U.S. government to facilitate policy-making regarding environmental health, infectious diseases (e.g., SARS, Avian Influenza, Pandemic Influenza, Polio), health in post-conflict situations, and surveillance and response,  bioterrorism and health security.

The office works with many offices within the State Department and other U.S. government agencies, including the National Security Council, Homeland Security Council, Departments of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Agriculture, Defense, USAID, and intelligence agencies. We also work with the United Nations and international organizations, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and foreign governments.

IHB promotes effective strategies for global health security and systems, and responses to global health crises, by encouraging strong political leadership on health policy. The office works with other government agencies to represent the U.S. position on health matters in international fora and assists U.S. diplomatic posts in their health and health security-related activities with foreign governments.

(Photos used in this site are courtesy of Photoshare, a service of The INFO Project at www.photoshare.org. Photoshare photos are granted by USAID and Johns Hopkins University.)