Acronyms in International Health and Relief 

AAIN
Action Africa in Need (NGO)

AAP
American Academy of Pediatrics (NGO)

ACF
Action Contre la Faim (NGO)

ACIH
Agency for Co-operation in International Health ( Japan)

ACIP
Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (US Public Health Service)

ACMR
Advisory Committee on Medical Research (WHO)

ADB
African Development Bank (IGO)

ADB
Asian Development Bank (IGO)

ADRA
Adventist Development and Relief Agency (NGO)

AFB
Acid Fast Bacilli

AFDB
African Development Bank (IGO)

AFR
Bureau for Africa (USAID)

AFSC
American Friends Service Committee (NGO)

AHRTAG
Appropriate Health Resources and Technologies Action Group (now Healthlink) (UK)

AI
Amnesty International (NGO)

AICOS
Associazione Interventi di Cooperazione allo Sviluppo (It. NGO)

AICF
Action Internationale Contre la Faim (NGO)

AID
United States Agency for International Development

AIDS
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

AIHA
American International Health Alliance (NGO)

AIM
African Inland Mission (NGO)

AJJDC
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (NGO)

AJWS
American Jewish World Service (NGO)

AKF
Aga Khan Foundation (NGO)

ALRI
Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

AMEL
Lebanese Association for Popular Action (NGO)

AMREF
African Medical and Research Foundation (NGO)

AMSA
American Medical Student Association (NGO)

ANE
Bureau for Asia and the Near East (USAID)

ANM
Auxiliary Nurse Midwife

APHA
American Public Health Association

APLM
Anti Personnel Land Mine

APO
Aid Post Orderly

AR
Attack Rate

ARC
American Refugee Committee (NGO)

ARC
American Red Cross, International Service

ARI
Acute Respiratory Infections

ASDB
Asian Development Bank

ASEAN
Association of South East Asian Nations

AUI
Action d’Urgence Internationale (International Emergency Action) (NGO)

BBF
Brother’s Brother Foundation (NGO)

BCG
Bacille Calmette-Guerin (TB vaccine)

BHR
Bureau for Humanitarian Response (USAID)

BHS
Basic Health Services

BMI
Body Mass Index

BRAC
Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (Bang. NGO)

BRC
British Refugee Council (NGO)

BRCS
British Red Cross Society

C&F
Cost and Freight

CARE
Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (NGO)

CARICOM
Caribbean Community

CBA
Cost-Benefit Analysis

CBR
Community Based Rehabilitation

CBR
Crude Birth Rate

CCCD
Combating Childhood Communicable Diseases (USAID program)

CCF
Christian Children’s Fund (NGO)

CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US Dept. of Health and Human Services)

CDD
Control of Diarrheal Disease (WHO)

CDR
Center for Documentation of Refugees (IGO)

CEA
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

CEDPA
Center for Development and Population Activities (NGO)

CEE
Central and Eastern Europe

CEIS
Centro Italiano di Solidarietá (It. NGO)

CENTCOM
Central Command (US DOD)

CERF
Central Emergency Revolving Fund (UN)

CFR
Case Fatality Ratio

CFR
Crude Fatality Rate

CGAP
Consulatative Group to Assist the Poorest (World Bank)

CHA
Community Health Aide

CHE
Complex Humanitarian Emergency

CHL
Community Health Leader

CHV
Community Health Volunteer

CHW
Community Health Worker

CIDA
Canadian International Development Agency

CIF
Cost, Insurance and Freight

CIMADE
Service Oecuménique d’Entraide (Fr. NGO)

CINC
Commander in Chief

CINCPAC
Commander-in-Chief Pacific

CIOMS
Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences

CIS
Commonwealth of Independent States

CISAS
Centro de Información y Servicios de Asesoria en Salud (Nic. NGO)

CL
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

CM
Chief of Mission (US)

CMO

Civil Military Operations (US DOD term)

CMOC
Civil Military Operations Center (US DOD term)

CMOT
Civil Military Operations Team (US DOD term)

CMR
Child Mortality Rate

CMR
Crude Mortality Rate

CMS
Center for Migration Studies (NGO)

COMECON
Council for Mutual Economic Assistance

CP
Command Post

CPHC
Comprehensive Primary Health Care

CPR
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

CRS
Catholic Relief Services (NGO)

CRWRC
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee

CSF
Children’s Survival Fund (NGO)

CSM
Corn-Soya-Milk

CSM
Contraceptive Social Marketing

CTF
Combined Task Force (Military)

CVI
Children’s Vaccine Initiative

CWS
Church World Service (NGO)

CWS
Community Water Supply and Sanitation Unit (WHO)

DAC
Development Assistance Committee (OECD)

DALIS
Disaster Assistance Logistics Information System

DALY
Disability-Adjusted Life Year

DANIDA
Danish International Development Agency

DAP
Drug Action Programme (WHO)

DART
Disaster Assistance Response Team

DC
Developing Country

DCM
Deputy Chief of Mission (US)

DEC
Disasters Emergency Committee (UK NGO consortium)

DFB
Damien Foundation (Belg. NGO)

DHA
Department of Humanitarian Affairs (UN)

DHF
Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

DIRE
Data Base of Items for the Relief of Emergencies ( UN)

DMAT
Disaster Medical Assistance Team

DMF-Index
Decayed-Missed-Filled Index (oral health index)

DMO
District Medical Officer

DMT
Disaster Management Team

DOD
Department of Defense (US)

DOS
Department of State (US)

DOW
Doctors of the World (NGO)

DP
Displaced Person

DPHO
District Public Health Officer

DPT
Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (immunization)

DRD
Disaster Response Division (OFDA)

DRI
Direct Relief International (NGO)

DSM
Dried Skimmed Milk

DSS
Dengue Shock Syndrome

EAA
Euro Action-Acord (NGO)

EBV
Epstein-Barr Virus

EC
European Community (IGO)

ECHO
Equipment to Charity hospitals Overseas

ECHO
Equipment to Charity hospitals Overseas

ECHO
European Community Humanitarian Office

EDL
Essential Drug List

EDRC
Emergency Disaster Relief Coordinator

EEC
European Economic Community

EIS
Epidemic Intelligence Service (CDC)

ENDA CARIBE
Environment and Development in the Third World (Dom. NGO)

ENI
Bureau for Europe and Newly Independent States (USAID)

EPI
Expanded Programme on Immunization (WHO)

ERM
Enfants Refugies du Monde (Refugee Children of the World) (NGO)

EU
European Union

EUR
Bureau for Europe and Canadian Affairs (US DOS)

EURCOM
European Command (US DOD)

EXW
Ex-Works

FAA
Foreign Assistance Act (US)

FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization (IGO)

FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency (US)

FEWS
Famine Early Warning System

FFH
Food for the Hungry (NGO)

FFP
Office for Food and Peace (BHR)

FFW
Food for Work

FGAE
Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia (Eth. NGO)

FHI
Food for the Hungry International (NGO)

FIC
Fully Immmunized Child

FIC
Fogarty International Center (US National Institutes of Health)

FINNIDA
Finnish International Development Agency

FOB
Free on Board

FP
Family Planning

FTC
Feed the Children (NGO)

FSE
Former Soviet Economy

FSU
Former Soviet Union

FY
Fiscal Year

GAG
Global Advisory Group (EPI)

GAVI
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Initiatives

GBD
Global Burden of Disease

GDP
Gross Domestic Product

GIS
Geographic Information System

GNP
Gross National Product

GOBI
Growth monitoring, Oral rehydration, Breastfeeding, Immunization

GOBI/FFF
GOBI plus Family planning, Food production, Female education

GPA
Global Programme on AIDS (WHO)

GRAAP
Groupe de Rechereche et d’Appui pour l’Autopromotion (Bur Fas. NGO)

GSK
Gonoshasthya Kendra (Bang. NGO)

GTZ
German Technical Assistance Agency

HA
Health Aide

HAST
Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team (DOD)

HAV
Hepatitis A Virus

HBV
Hepatitis B Virus

HDR
Humanitarian Daily Ration

HEED
Health, Education, Economic Development Bangladesh (Bang. NGO)

HFA
Health for All (WHO)

HFA2000
Health for All by the Year 2000 (WHO)

HIS
Health Information System

HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HKI
Hellen Keller International (US NGO)

HMD
Health Manpower Development (WHO)

HMMWV
Highly Mobile Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (“hum vee”) (DOD)

HQ
Headquarters

HRA
Humanitarian and Refugee Affairs Office (US DOD)

IAM
International Assistance Mission (Afgh. NGO)

IAPSO
Inter-Agency Procurement Services Office

IARA
Islamic African Relief Agency (Sud. NGO)

IARC
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO)

IAS
International Aid Sweden (NGO)

IATA
International Air Transport Association

IAVI
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative

IBRD
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development - The World Bank

ICCE
Intracapsular Cataract Extraction

ICDDR,B
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh

ICHF
International Child Health Foundation (NGO)

ICHN
International Child Health Network (NGO)

ICM
Intergovernmental Committee on Migration

ICMC
International Catholic Medical Commission (NGO)

ICMR
Indian Council of Medical Research

ICRC
International Committee of the Red Cross (NGO)

ICVA
International Council of Voluntary Agencies (NGO)

IDA
International Dispensary Association

IDA
International Development Association (UN)

IDD
Iodine Deficiency Disorder

IDP
Internally Displaced Person

IEF
International Eye Foundation (NGO)

IFAD
International Fund for Agricultural Development

IFPMA
International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations

IFRCS
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IGO
Intergovernmental Organization

IHE
International Health Exchange (UK NGO)

ILO
International Labour Organisation

IMA
Interchurch Medical Assistance (NGO)

IMC
International Medical Corps (NGO)

IMCI
Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (WHO initiative)

IMF
International Monetary Fund

IMPACT
An International Initiative Against Avoidable Disability (Swiss NGO)

IMR
Infant Mortality Rate

IMVA
International Medical Volunteers Association (NGO)

INCAP
Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama

INN
International Non-proprietary Name (of medications)

INRUD
Internatioanl Network for the Rational use of Drugs

INSTRAW
International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women

IO
International Organization

IOM
International Organization for Migration

IPA
International Pediatric Association

IPM
Integrated Pest Management

IPPF
International Planned Parenthood Federation (UK NGO)

IPV
Inactivated Polio Vaccine (Salk)

IPVO
Indigenous Private Voluntary Organization

IRB
Institutional Review Board (for studies on human subjects)

IRC
International Rescue Committee (NGO)

IRH/FP
Integrated Rural Health and Family Planning

ISRA
Islamic Relief Agency (NGO)

IUAT
International Union Against Tuberculosis

IUD
Intrauterine Device

IUGR
Intrauterine Growth Retardation

IWHC
International Women’s Health Coalition (US NGO)

JAIDO
Japan International Development Organization

JICA
Japan International Cooperation Agency

JRS
Jesuit Refugee Service (NGO)

KAP
Knowledge, Attitude and Practices

KPV
Killed Polio Virus (=IPV)

LAC
Latin America and the Caribbean

LBRF
Louse-borne Relapsing Fever

LBW
Low Birth Weight

LCRS
League of Red Cross / Crescent Societies (NGO)

LDC
Less or Least Developed Country

LEB
Life Expectancy at Birth

LICROSS
League of Red Cross / Crescent Societies (NGO)

LLDC
Least Developed Country

LPO
Local Purchase Order

LWF
Lutheran World Federation

LWR
Lutheran World Relief (NGO)

MA
Medical Assistant

MAC
Mid Arm Circumference

MAF
Mission Aviation Fellowship

MAL
Malaria Unit (WHO)

MAP
Medical Assistance Program (NGO)

MAP
Malaria Action Programme (WHO)

MCC
Mennonite Central Committee (NGO)

MCD
Medical Care Development (NGO)

MCH
Maternal and Child Health

MCH
Maternal and Child Health Programme (WHO)

MCI
Mercy Corps International (NGO)

MCL
Mucocutaneous Leprosy

MDM
Médecins du Monde (NGO, Doctors of the World)

MDRO
Mission Disaster Relief Officer

MDT
Multiple Drug Therapy

MHW
Multipurpose Health Worker

MMB
Medicus Mundi Belgium
(Belg. NGO)
MMR
Mumps, Measles, Rubella (vaccine)

MMR
Maternal Mortality Rate

MOH
Medical Officer of Health

MOH
Ministry of Health

MOPH
Ministry of Public Health

MRE
Meal-Ready-to-Eat (DOD)

MSF
Médecins Sans Frontières (NGO, Doctors Without Borders)

MSF-H
Médecins Sans Frontières Holland (NGO, Doctors Without Borders)

MT
Metric Ton

MUAC
Mid-Upper Arm Circumference

NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NCIH
National Council for International Health (US)

NGO
Non-Governmental Organization

NHS
National Health Service (UK)

NIH
National Institutes of Health (US)

NIS
Newly Independent States (former Soviet states)

NN
Neonatal

NNMR
Neonatal Mortality Rate

NNT
Neonatal Tetanus

NOAA
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (US)

NORAD
Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation

NPA
Norwegian People’s Aid

NRC
Norwegian Refugee Council (NGO)

NUT
Nutrition Programme (WHO)

OAS
Organization of American States (IGO)

OAU
Organization of African Unity (IGO)

OC
Oral Contraceptive

OCP
Oral Contraceptive Pill

ODA
Overseas Development Administration

ODA
Official Development Assistance

ODM
Overseas Development Ministry (UK)

ODP
Orderly Departure Programme

OECD
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (IGO)

OED
Austrian Service for Development Cooperation (Aus. NGO)

OFDA
Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID)

OHI
Operation Handicap Internationale (NGO)

OHS
Occupational Health Services

OIH
Office of International Health (US Public Health Service)

OLS
Operation Lifeline Sudan (UN)

ONG
French and Spanish acronym for NGO

OPV
Oral Polio Vaccine (Sabin)

OR
Odds Ratio

ORA
OROMO Relief Association (Eth. NGO)

ORC
Open Relief Centre

ORH
Oral Health Programme (WHO)

ORS
Oral Rehydration Salts

ORS
Oral Rehydration Solution

ORT
Oral Rehydration Therapy

OS
Operations Support

OSOCC
On-Site Operations Coordination Center

OTI
Office for Transition Initiatives (USAID/BHR)

OXFAM
Oxford Committee for Famine Relief

PA
Physician Assistant

PADF
Pan American Development Foundation

PAHO
Pan American Health Organization (IGO)

PASB
Pan American Sanitary Bureau

PATH
Program for Appropriate Technology in Health

PCI
Project Concern International (US NGO)

PDA
Population and Community Development Association (Thai. NGO)

PDP
Parasitic Diseases Programme (WHO)

PEM
Protein-Energy Malnutrition

PHC
Primary Health Care

PHN
Public Health Nurse

PHN
Population, Health and Nutrition Department (World Bank)

PK/HA
Peace Keeping / Humanitarian Assistance

PMPP
Prevention, Mitigation, Preparedness and Planning Division (OFDA)

PNN
Postneonatal

PNNMR
Postneonatal Mortality Rate

PPD
Purified Protein Derivative

PRICOR
Primary Health Care Operations Research

PRITECH
Technologies for Primary Health Care

PRM
Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration (US DOS)

PROSALUS
ONG Para la Promocion de la Salud en Paises en Desarrollo (Sp. NGO)

PSC
Personal Services Contractor

PTB
Pulmonary Tuberculosis

PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PVD
Programme for Vaccine Development (WHO)

PVO
Private Voluntary Organization (US term for NGO)

PYLL
Potential Years of Life Lost

QIP
Quick Impact Project

QPS
Quaker Peace and Service (UK NGO)

QUIP
Quick Impact Project

RCO
Rural Community Organizer

RDF
Revolving Drug Fund

REA
Rapid Epidemiologic Assessment

RECPHEC
Resource Center for Primary Health Care (Nep. NGO)

RedR
Registered Engineers for Disaster Relief

RHC
Rural Health Center

RI
Relief International (NGO)

RPC
Refugee Processing Center

RR
Relative Risk

RSV
Respiratory Syncitial Virus

RTI
Reproductive Tract Infection

RTI
Respiratory Tract Infection

SADC
Southern Africa Development Community

SAT
Satellite

SAT
Southern Air Transport

SAWSO
Salvation Army World Service Office (NGO)

SCF
Save the Children Federation (NGO)

SFC
Supplementary Feeding Centre

SFP
Supplementary Feeding Programme

SHS
Division of Strengthening Health Services (WHO)

SIDA
Swedish International Development Authority

SINCH
Section on International Child Health (AAP)

SOM
Sovereign Order of Malta

SOUTHCOM
Southern Command (DOD)

SPHC
Selective Primary Health Care

STD
Sexually Transmitted Disease

TA
Travel Authorization

TALC
Teaching Aids at Low Cost (UK NGO)

TAPS
Associação Brasileira de Tecnologia Alternativa na Promoção da Saude (Brz. NGO)

TB
Tuberculosis

TBA
Traditional Birth Attendant

TBM
Tuberculous Meningitis

TBRF
Tick-borne Relapsing Fever

TCDC
Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries

TDR
Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (UN)

TDY
Temporary Duty

TFC
Therapeutic Feeding Centre

TFP
Therapeutic Feeding Programme

TFR
Total Fertility Rate

TM
Traditional Midwife

TU
Tropical Ulcer

TU
Tuberculin Unit

UCI
Universal Childhood Immunization

UMCOR
United Methodist Committee on Relief (NGO)

UN
United Nations (IGO)

UN-DMT
United Nations Disaster Management Team

UNCSH
United Nations Centre for Human Settlements ( IGO)

UNDHA
United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (IGO)

UNDOS
United Nations Development Office for Somalia (IGO)

UNDP
United Nations Development Program (IGO)

UNDP
United Nations Development Programme (IGO)

UNDRO
United Nations Disaster Relief Office - now UNDHA (IGO)

UNEP
United Nations Environment Program (IGO)

UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IGO)

UNFPA
United Nations Fund for Population Activities (IGO)

UNHCR
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (IGO)

UNICEF
United Nations Children's Fund (IGO)

UNIFEM
United Nations Development Fund for Women (IGO)

UNIPAC
United Nations Packing & Assembly Center (Denmark)(IGO)

UNIPAC
United Nations Procurement & Assembly Center (Denmark)(IGO)

UNITAR
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (IGO)

UNRISD
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (IGO)

UNTAG
United Nations Transition Assistance Group (IGO)

UNU
United Nations University (IGO)

UNV
United Nations Volunteers (IGO)

USACE
United States Army Corps of Engineers (DOD)

USAF
United States Air Force (DOD)

USAID
United States Agency for International Development

USG
United States Government.

USGS
United States Geological Survey (US Dept. of the Interior)

USPHS
US Public Health Service

UXO
Unexploded Ordinance

VCW
Village Community Worker

VHAI
Voluntary Health Association of India (Ind. NGO)

VHF
Viral Hemorhagic Fever

VHP
Village Health Post

VHW
Village Health Worker

VITA
Volunteers in Technical Assistance

VOLAG
Voluntary Agency (PVO or NGO)

WASH
Water and Sanitation for Health Project (US NGO)

WCC
World Council of Churches (NGO)

WCDO
World Concern Development Organization (NGO)

WDR
World Development Report (World Bank)

WFC
World Food Council (UN)

WFP
World Food Programme (UN)

WHA
World Health Assembly (WHO)

WHC
Ward Health Committee

WHO
World Health Organization (IGO)

WMO
World Meteorological Organization (IGO)

WRC
World Relief Corporation

WRRC
Women’s Resources and Research Centre (Phil. NGO)

WSB
Wheat-Soya Blend

WVRD
World Vision Relief and Development (NGO)

YLL
Years of Life Lost

YMCA
Young Mens Christian Association (NGO)

YPLL
Years of Productive Life Lost