Acronyms in International Health
The following list includes over 500 acronyms used in international and global health. If you have corrections or suggestions for additions, please send details to GMNinfo@mms.org
AAIN Action Africa in Need (NGO)
AAP American Academy of Pediatrics (NGO)
ACF Action Contre la Faim (NGO)
ACET Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis
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)
AED Academy for Educational Development
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
AIDSCAP Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Control and Prevention Program
AIHA American International Health Alliance (NGO)
AIM African Inland Mission (NGO)
AIMI Africa Integrated Malaria Initiative
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)
AMR Antimicrobial Resistance
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
APAC AIDS Prevention and Control
APHA American Public Health Association
APLM Anti Personnel Land Mine
APO Aid Post Orderly
APR Agency Performance Report
APUA Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics
AR Attack Rate
ARC American Refugee Committee (NGO)
ARC American Red Cross, International Service
ARCH Applied Research for Child Health
ARI Acute Respiratory Infections
ASDB Asian Development Bank
ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nations
AUI Action díUrgence Internationale (International Emergency Action) (NGO)
BASICS Basic Support for Institutionalized Child Support
BBF Brotherís Brother Foundation (NGO)
BCG Bacille Calmette-Guerin (TB vaccine)
BCI Behavior Change Interventions
BHR Bureau for Humanitarian Response (USAID)
BHS Basic Health Services
BMI Body Mass Index
BRC British Refugee Council (NGO)
BRAC Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (Bang. 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 Childrenís Fund (NGO)
CCH Community and Child Health
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)
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
CHE Complex Humanitarian Emergency
CHL Community Health Leader
CH/N Child Health and Nutrition
CHV Community Health Volunteer
CHW Community Health Worker
CIDA Canadian International Development Agency
CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight
CIHI Center for International Health Information
CIMADE Service Oecuménique díEntraide (Fr. NGO)
CINC Commander in Chief
CINCPAC Commander-in-Chief Pacific
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 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
CS Child Survival
CSD Child Survival and Disease
CSF Childrenís Survival Fund (NGO)
CSM Corn-Soya-Milk
CSM Contraceptive Social Marketing
CSW Commercial Sex Worker
CTF Combined Task Force (Military)
CTR Contraceptive Technology Research
CVI Childrenís Vaccine Initiative
CWS Church World Service
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)
DD Diarrheal Disease
DEC Disasters Emergency Committee (UK NGO consortium)
DEVTA Deworming and Enhanced Vitamin A
DFB Damien Foundation (Belg. NGO)
DFID Department for International Development (UK)
DHA Department of Humanitarian Affairs (UN)
DHF Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
DHS Demographic and Health Survey
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)
DOTS Directly Observed Therapy Short-Course (TB)
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
EBV Epstein-Barr Virus
EC European Community (IGO)
ECHO Equipment to Charity hospitals Overseas
ECHO European Community Humanitarian Office
EDL Essential Drug List
EDRC Emergency Disaster Relief Coordinator
EEC European Economic Community
EH Environmental Health
EHP Environmental Health Project
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)
ERID Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases
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)
FHI Family Health International
FIC Fully Immunized 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)
FY Fiscal Year
GAG Global Advisory Group (EPI)
GAVI Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations
GDA Global Development Alliance (USAID)
GDP Gross Domestic Product
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 díAppui pour líAutopromotion (Bur Fas. NGO)
GSK Gonoshasthya Kendra (Bang. NGO)
GTZ German Technical Assistance Agency
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)
HMIS Health Management Information System
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
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)
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)
ICS Immunochromatographic Strip (TB test)
ICVA International Council of Voluntary Agencies (NGO)
ID Infectious Disease
IDA International Dispensary Association
IDA International Development Association (UN)
IDB Inter-American Development Bank
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
INCLEN International Clinical Epidemiology Network
IND Investigational New Drug
INN International Non-proprietary Name (of medications)
INRUD International 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)
ISTI International Sciences and Technology Institute
ITBN Insecticide Treated Bed Nets
ITN Insecticide Treated Nets
IUAT International Union Against Tuberculosis
IUD Intrauterine Device
IUGR Intrauterine Growth Retardation
IWHC International Womenís Health Coalition (US NGO)
JAIDO Japan International Development Organization
JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency
JRS Jesuit Refugee Service (NGO)
JSI John Snow Incorporated
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)
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
MDB Multilateral Development Bank
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
MNH Maternal and Neonatal Health
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)
MSH Management Sciences for Health
MT Metric Ton
MUAC Mid-Upper Arm Circumference
MVDP Malaria Vaccine Development Program
MVI Malaria Vaccine Initiative
NACP National AIDS Control Program
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NCIH National Council for International Health (US)
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
NHA National Health Accounts
NHS National Health Service (UK)
NID National Immunization Days
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 Peopleís 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
OCP Onchocerciasis Control Program
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)
OMNI Opportunities for Micronutrient Interventions Project (USAID)
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
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)
PEI Polio Eradication Initiative
PEM Protein-Energy Malnutrition
PHC Primary Health Care
PHN Public Health Nurse
PHN Population, Health and Nutrition Department (World Bank)
PHR Partnership for Health Reform
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)
PROWID Promoting Women in Development
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
QPS Quaker Peace and Service (UK NGO)
QUIP Quick Impact Project
RATS Response Alternatives for Technical Services (USAID/OFDA)
RBM Roll Back Malaria
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
RH Reproductive Health
RHC Rural Health Center
RI Relief International (NGO)
RPC Refugee Processing Center
RPM Rational Pharmaceutical Management
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 Center
SFP Supplementary Feeding Program
SHS Division of Strengthening Health Services (WHO)
SIDA Swedish International Development Authority
SINCH Section on International Child Health (AAP)
SM Safe Motherhood
SNID Sub-National Immunization Days
SOM Sovereign Order of Malta
SOUTHCOM Southern Command (DOD)
SPHC Selective Primary Health Care
STD Sexually Transmitted Disease
STI Sexually Transmitted Infections
TA Technical Assistance
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 Center
TFP Therapeutic Feeding Program
TFR Total Fertility Rate
TM Traditional Midwife
TU Tropical Ulcer
TU Tuberculin Unit
UCI Universal Childhood Immunization
UMCOR United Methodist Committee on Relief (NGO)
UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
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 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)
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
VADD Vitamin A Deficiency Disease
VB Vector Borne
VCW Village Community Worker
VHAI Voluntary Health Association of India (Ind. NGO)
VHF Viral Hemorrhagic 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 Womenís Resources and Research Centre (Phil. NGO)
WSB Wheat-Soya Blend
WVRD World Vision Relief and Development (NGO)
YARH Young Adult Reproductive Health
YLL Years of Life Lost
YMCA Young Menís Christian Association (NGO)
YPLL Years of Productive Life Lost
- Page Last Updated 7/11/01 -