The constitution of WHO was approved by an international conference held in New York in 1946 and a first World Health Assembly convened in Geneva in July 1948 brought about the formal formation of the organisation. The WHO has six regional offices located in Alexandria, Brazzaville, Copenhagen, Manila, New Delhi and Washington. The total staff of WHO is about 2900 of whom more than one third are stationed at the headquarters in Geneva, the rest serving the regions. The functions of WHO include assistance in strengthening national health services, maintenance of epidemiological and statistical services, stimulation of the eradication of epidemic and endemic diseases, and cooperation between scientific and professional health groups.