All About World Health Organization

All About World Health Organization

 The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group. This organization has been working for over 60 years. Current head of the who is Margaret Chan. The organization is responsible for the world health report which is published by WHO on every world health day (7th of April every year).

History of the WHO : – 

After the 2nd World War, the world was suffering from extremely high disease rates and loss of basic resources and infrastructure. These factors ultimately led to the finalization of the World Health Organization, which was officially formed April 7, 1948, a day still celebrated each year as World Health Day. Than later the organization joined by the few other nations, now it has 194 member countries as part of the World Health Assembly, which is the decision-making authority of the WHO.

Since its creation, it has played a leading role in the eradication of smallpox. Its current priorities include communicable diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS, Ebola, malaria and tuberculosis, the mitigation of the effects of non-communicable diseases, sexual and reproductive health, development, and aging, nutrition, food security and healthy eating, occupational health, substance abuse and driving the development of reporting, publications, and networking.

The WHO objectives include:- 

1. To provide leadership on matters critical to health and engage in partnerships where joint action is needed,
2. To shape the research agenda and stimulate the generation, translation and dissemination of valuable knowledge,
3. To set norms and standards and promote and monitor their implementation,
4. To articulate ethical and evidence-based policy options,
5. To provide technical support, catalysing change, and building sustainable institutional capacity and monitor the health situation and assess health trends.

Supporters and funding of the WHO :-

The World Health Organization is funded by contributions from all member countries and from donations from philanthropists, like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The WHO and the United Nations work closely with other international organizations like the European Union, the African Union, the World Bank, and UNICEF.

WHO and its offices :- 

In WHO, more than 7000 people from more than 150 countries work for the Organization in 150 WHO offices in countries, territories and areas, six regional offices, at the Global Service Centre in Malaysia and at the headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.  In addition to medical doctors, public health specialists, scientists and epidemiologists, WHO staff include people trained to manage administrative, financial, and information systems, as well as experts in the fields of health statistics, economics and emergency relief.

(28)