Simone Lawson
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a United Nations agency dedicated to global health and safety. It was founded in 1948, with the signing of its constitution in 1946 by 51 countries of the United Nations and 10 other countries. The WHO's work is rooted in the principles of equity, integrity, inclusion, and the right to health and well-being for all. It connects nations, partners, and communities to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. The WHO has been at the forefront of tackling global health challenges, coordinating responses to health emergencies, and promoting healthier lives for everyone, everywhere.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1948 |
| Month founded | April |
| Date founded | 7 April |
| Date work began | 1 September |
| Date of first meeting | 24 July |
| Date of first World Health Assembly | Summer of 1948 |
| Location of headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Number of founding members | 61 |
| Number of current members | 194 |
| Type of organisation | United Nations agency |
| Purpose | To promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable |
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What You'll Learn
WHO's Constitution was signed in 1946
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a United Nations agency dedicated to global health and safety. The WHO was founded in 1948, but its constitution was signed on 22 July 1946 by all 51 countries of the United Nations and 10 other countries. This made the WHO the first specialized agency of the United Nations to which every member subscribed.
The WHO's creation was the culmination of a series of conferences and agreements on international health cooperation. The first International Sanitary Conference was convened in Paris in 1851 in response to cholera epidemics in 1830 and 1847 that killed tens of thousands in Europe. However, little was accomplished at this conference due to political differences. Subsequent conferences gradually widened the scope of diseases under discussion, and in 1892, the International Sanitary Convention for the control of cholera was adopted. In 1897, a convention concerning the bubonic plague was signed by 16 of the 19 states attending the Venice conference.
In 1902, the forerunner of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the International Sanitary Bureau, was established, making PAHO the oldest international health agency in the world. In 1907, L'Office International d'Hygiene Publique (International Office of Public Hygiene) was established. In 1919, the League of Nations established the Health Organisation of the League of Nations in Geneva. In 1926, the International Sanitary Convention was revised to include provisions against smallpox and typhus. The last International Sanitary Conference was held in Paris in 1938 on the eve of World War II.
After World War II, the United Nations absorbed all other health organizations. In April 1945, during the Conference to set up the United Nations (UN) in San Francisco, representatives of Brazil and China proposed the establishment of an international health organization. On 15 February 1946, the Economic and Social Council of the UN instructed the Secretary-General to convene a conference to frame the constitution of this new organization. This constitution was signed on 22 July 1946, and it formally came into force on 7 April 1948 when it was ratified by the 26th member state. The WHO formally began its work on 1 September 1948, with G. Brock Chisholm as its first director-general.
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The Constitution came into force in 1948
The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded in 1948, and its constitution came into force on 7 April 1948. This was the date of the first World Health Day, and it is now celebrated annually as World Health Day.
The WHO was established as a specialised agency of the United Nations, with the aim of promoting health, keeping the world safe, and serving the vulnerable. The WHO's work is rooted in the principles of equity, integrity, and inclusion, as outlined in its Constitution, which was signed by all 51 countries of the United Nations, as well as 10 other countries, on 22 July 1946.
The WHO's Constitution provides a definition of health, stating that "health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." The organisation's work is guided by this definition and its commitment to promoting health and well-being for all people.
The WHO's efforts to improve global health are funded through membership dues and contributions from member states and outside donors. The organisation works with its member states to achieve universal health coverage and respond to health emergencies. The WHO has outlined ambitious plans, such as the Triple Billion targets, to achieve good health for all using science-based policies and programmes.
Since its founding, the WHO has led the way in tackling public health challenges and promoting health and safety worldwide. The organisation's work has evolved over the years, adapting to new diseases and health concerns. The WHO continues to be a vital force in global health, dedicated to improving the lives of people everywhere.
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WHO's first Health Assembly
The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded in 1948. It is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners, and people to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.
The WHO's first Health Assembly opened in Geneva on June 24, 1948, with delegations from 53 of the 55 member states. The assembly decided that the Interim Commission, which had been carrying out the activities of existing health institutions, would cease to exist at midnight on August 31, 1948, and would be immediately succeeded by the WHO.
The first Health Assembly's priorities were to control the spread of malaria, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted infections, as well as to improve maternal and child health, nutrition, and environmental hygiene. The assembly's first legislative act was to compile accurate statistics on the spread and morbidity of diseases.
The WHO's constitution, which outlines the organization's basic principles of the right to health and well-being for all people, was signed by all 51 countries of the United Nations and 10 other countries on July 22, 1946. It became the first specialized agency of the United Nations with every member's subscription. The constitution formally came into force on the first World Health Day on April 7, 1948, when it was ratified by the 26th member state, and the WHO officially began its work on September 1, 1948.
The first Health Assembly meeting finished on July 24, 1948, with a secured budget of US$5 million (then £1,250,000) for the 1949 year. G. Brock Chisholm was appointed director-general, and Andrija Štampar was the assembly's first president.
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WHO's work and funding
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners, and people to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage, coordinates the world's response to health emergencies, and promotes healthier lives—from pregnancy care through old age. The organization's current work period (2019-2025) has been focused on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
WHO's work is rooted in the basic principles of the right to health and well-being for all people, as outlined in its 1948 Constitution. The organization is committed to accountability and the principles of equity, integrity, and inclusion. WHO's decision-making body is the World Health Assembly, which is attended by delegations from all Member States. The executive board of the World Health Assembly is composed of members technically qualified in health and gives effect to the decisions and policies of the Assembly.
WHO's funding comes from two main sources: Member States paying their assessed contributions (membership dues) and voluntary contributions from Member States and other partners. Assessed contributions are a percentage of a country's gross domestic product, agreed upon by the United Nations General Assembly and approved by Member States every two years at the World Health Assembly. Voluntary contributions can come from Member States (in addition to their assessed contributions) or from other partners, such as other United Nations organizations, intergovernmental organizations, philanthropic foundations, and the private sector. In recent years, voluntary contributions have accounted for more than three-quarters of the organization's financing.
WHO's programme budget is set in advance by member states, outlining planned activities to meet its work plan over a two-year period. The current programme budget of $6.834 billion covers the period 2024-2025 and was approved by member states in May 2023. This represents a slight 2% increase over the previous budget. WHO's largest contributors for 2020-2021 included Germany, the Gates Foundation, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Commission.
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The need for a global health organisation
The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded in 1948 as a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) with a global mandate. The WHO's creation was the culmination of a series of international conferences and agreements on health that began in the 19th century.
Subsequent conferences widened the scope of diseases under discussion to include yellow fever, brucellosis, leprosy, tuberculosis, and typhoid. These conferences led to the establishment of the Pan-American Sanitary Bureau in 1902 and the Office International d'Hygiène Publique in 1907. The League of Nations, formed in 1920, further emphasised the need for international health cooperation by establishing its own Health Organisation.
After World War II, the UN absorbed all existing health organisations to form the WHO, recognising that global health challenges required a coordinated international response. The WHO's Constitution, signed by all 51 UN countries and 10 other nations on 22 July 1946, emphasised the organisation's truly global nature and commitment to advancing health for all.
Since its founding, the WHO has led global health efforts, promoted universal health coverage, coordinated responses to health emergencies, and advanced scientific research and policies to improve health outcomes for everyone, everywhere. The organisation's work is guided by principles of equity, integrity, inclusion, and accountability, with a focus on serving the most vulnerable.
In summary, the need for a global health organisation like the WHO arose from the recognition that international cooperation is essential to effectively address disease outbreaks, improve global health standards, and ensure equitable access to healthcare for all.
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Frequently asked questions
The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded in 1948.
The WHO was founded to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. It is dedicated to advancing health for all and works to give everyone an equal chance to live a healthy life.
The WHO is a specialised agency of the United Nations. It was formed after World War II when the United Nations absorbed all other health organisations. The WHO's constitution was signed by all 51 countries of the United Nations and 10 other countries on 22 July 1946.
The WHO is funded through membership dues and voluntary contributions. Membership dues are paid by member states and are calculated as a percentage of each country's gross domestic product. The remainder of the WHO's funding comes from voluntary contributions, largely from member states and other United Nations organisations.
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