World Health Organization, WHO, and global forum for health and research have celebrated their 60th and 10th anniversaries respectively.

Speaking at WHO's anniversary at the national museum in Mali the organisation's deputy director Timothy Evans told his audience that the celebration was organised as a tribute to all those who have contributed to the success of the two institutions.

"Both institutions are grateful for your commitment in the past and future," he said, adding that his organisation was the coordinating authority on issues related to health within the United Nations system.

Outlining some of the responsibilities of his organization, Evans said WHO was responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-base policy option, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends among others.

He said WHO supports research on the areas of health where research activity was low.

The deputy director said the 2009 world health assembly would request to endorse the recent WHO strategy on research for health.

Executive director global forum for health and research Dr. Steven Martin said his organisation's 10th anniversary was an indication of success.

He said global forum has driven the course for better targeted and prioritised research to address the health needs for poor populations, provided a forum for exchange and learning to decision-makers in the areas of research, funding and policy among others.

"The work has just started," he stated, suggesting further that health inequities exist all over the world and that access to health was far from being fair.

The global forum, he said, was determined to pursue its mission.