Jonah Patel
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that was founded in 1948. It is dedicated to the well-being of all people and is guided by science in its efforts to achieve health equity worldwide. WHO has a global presence, with six regional offices and 150 field offices, and its main functions include coordinating responses to international public health emergencies, promoting the control of epidemic and endemic diseases, and providing technical assistance to countries. The organization also sets international health standards, collects data on global health issues, and serves as a forum for scientific and policy discussions related to health.
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What You'll Learn
WHO's role in battling health emergencies
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nations agency responsible for coordinating and responding to international public health issues and emergencies. It was established in 1948 to promote health and safety, help the vulnerable, and set international health standards.
WHO's Health Emergencies Programme works with countries and partners to ensure preparedness for health emergencies that threaten global health security. The programme focuses on research, prevention, and management of epidemic and pandemic-prone diseases, strengthening detection and response systems, and providing healthcare in conflict-affected and humanitarian settings. WHO supports member states in evaluating, developing, and strengthening core capacities under the International Health Regulations to promptly address public health emergencies.
WHO's emergency risk management actions include creating supportive national policies and strategies, improving access to primary healthcare, training health workers, identifying hazards and vulnerabilities, promoting risk awareness, and protecting health facilities. The Strategic Health Operations lead coordinates communication, training, and the delivery of supplies and technical staff in crises.
WHO's surveillance systems detect health threats and share timely warnings. They also procure essential medicines and supplies, coordinate emergency medical teams, and advocate for those in need of healthcare. The Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment area provides information for public health decision-making, identifies new health events, and assesses risks. WHO works with the local Ministry of Health to identify health needs and coordinate partner organizations' efforts.
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WHO's work in policy development
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a United Nations agency that works with 194 member states across 6 regions and 150+ locations. The WHO's work in policy development is driven by its commitment to health and well-being for all people, as outlined in its 1948 Constitution.
WHO's policy development work is guided by its core values of equity, integrity, and inclusion. The organization strives to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has an equal chance to live a healthy life. This includes addressing the root causes of health problems and promoting wellness, as well as responding to the world's most pressing health issues. WHO's policy development efforts are also informed by its data collection on global health issues and its role as a forum for scientific and policy discussions related to health.
One of the key areas of WHO's policy development work is its focus on universal health coverage (UHC). WHO recognizes that good health care is needed at all stages of life and that UHC is essential to ensuring access to health as a human right. The organization works to support countries in improving their health-care systems and addressing challenges such as rising prices, shortages of essential medicines, and the issue of substandard or falsified medical products.
WHO also plays a crucial role in policy development related to health emergencies, including pandemics, disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises. The organization provides technical assistance to countries and coordinates responses to international public health emergencies, offering guidance and support to countries in their efforts to respond to and recover from these crises.
Furthermore, WHO's policy development work addresses social, environmental, and behavioural risks to health. This includes promoting healthy lifestyles, addressing physical, psychosocial, and environmental health risks, and collaborating with various sectors of society to create a world free from disease. WHO also works to establish international standards for biological products and improve teaching and training in public health and medical treatment.
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WHO's country offices
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a United Nations agency that spearheads international public health efforts. It was founded in 1948 to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. WHO's work is rooted in the principles of equity, integrity, inclusion, and the right to health and well-being for all people.
WHO has a broad mandate to guide and
WHO country offices are led by WHO Representatives (WRs) and consist of health and other experts, both foreign and local, as well as the necessary support staff. In Europe, WHO Representatives also serve as the head of the country office and are usually nationals. There are currently heads of country offices in Albania, Serbia, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.
WHO country offices play a crucial role in delivering tangible results and ensuring the organization can effectively serve its Member States. The Action for Results Group (ARG) was established in January 2023 to empower these country offices and ensure they are equipped with the necessary resources, personnel, and streamlined operations. The ARG, composed of WHO Representatives from each of the six regions, developed an Action Plan to address the unique requirements of each country. This plan includes a focus on "core predictable country presence," which involves building differentiated core capacities in all country offices while tailoring the level of WHO support provided to each country's specific needs.
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WHO's work with other organisations
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a United Nations agency that spearheads international public health efforts. It was established in 1948 to promote health and safety and help the vulnerable worldwide. WHO's primary activities include developing partnerships with other global health initiatives, conducting research, setting norms, providing technical support, and monitoring health trends worldwide.
WHO's work is rooted in the basic principles of the right to health and well-being for all people. It is committed to the principle of accountability and protecting and improving global health. Collaboration is at the heart of its work, and it mobilises all sectors of society, including governments, civil society, international organisations, foundations, advocates, researchers, and health workers.
WHO works with 194 Member States across six regions and in 150+ locations to improve everyone's ability to enjoy good health and well-being. It is governed by the World Health Assembly (WHA), which is composed of its 194 member states and is the decision-making body of WHO. The WHA appoints the director-general, votes on matters of policy and finance, and reviews reports of the executive board.
WHO also works closely with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank. It has also been joined by other global health actors, including the Global Fund for AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and pharmaceutical companies. WHO's country offices serve as the primary adviser to the respective country's government in matters of health and pharmaceutical policies.
WHO's programmes and partnerships emphasise universal health coverage (UHC) as a human right and aim to address the world's most pressing health issues, including communicable and non-communicable diseases, mental health, and health emergencies such as pandemics, disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises.
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WHO's work with vulnerable people
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a United Nations (UN) agency that spearheads international public health efforts. Founded in 1948, the WHO has a broad mandate to guide and coordinate international health policy. It is dedicated to the well-being of all people and is guided by science in its endeavours.
The WHO's work is rooted in the principles of equity, integrity and inclusion, as outlined in its 1948 Constitution. The organization's primary activities include developing partnerships with other global health initiatives, conducting research, setting norms, providing technical support, and monitoring health trends worldwide.
The WHO's official mandate is to promote health and safety while helping vulnerable people worldwide. WHO Representatives serve as heads of country offices and act as the primary advisers to their respective governments on health and pharmaceutical policies. The WHO provides technical assistance to countries, collects data on global health issues, and serves as a forum for scientific and policy discussions related to health.
The organization has been instrumental in achieving several public health milestones, including the eradication of smallpox, the near-eradication of polio, and the development of an Ebola vaccine. It has also been criticized for its slow response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic.
To work with vulnerable people, registration and specific clearances are often required. This is to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals, which aligns with the core principles of the WHO.
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Frequently asked questions
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is dedicated to the well-being of all people and works to promote health, safety, and the right to health and well-being for all.
The main functions of the WHO include:
- Coordinating responses to international public health issues and emergencies, such as pandemics, disease outbreaks, and natural disasters.
- Providing technical assistance to countries and setting international health standards.
- Collecting data on global health issues and serving as a forum for scientific and policy discussions related to health.
- Promoting universal health coverage and ensuring access to health as a human right.
- Addressing social, environmental, and behavioural risks to health, such as climate change, migration, and rising prices of medicines.
The WHO is governed by the World Health Assembly (WHA), which is composed of representatives from its 194 member states. The WHA appoints a director-general, sets goals and priorities, and approves the budget and activities of the organization. The WHA also elects an executive board of 34 health specialists to carry out its decisions and advise on matters of policy and finance.
