Measles Outbreak: In Mumbai Measles Cases Climb Over 200, Death Tally Reaches 13
World Health Organization (WHO)
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on April 7, 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Its main objective is “the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.”
What is the World Health Organization (WHO)?
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 is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO’s constitution states its main objective as “the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.”
Its current Director-General is Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who started his five-year term on 1 July 2017. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group. Its predecessor, the League of Nations Health Organization, was an agency of the League of Nations.
The functions of WHO include: providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in partnerships where joint action is needed; shaping the research agenda and stimulating the generation, translation and dissemination of valuable knowledge; setting norms and standards and promoting and monitoring their implementation; articulating ethical and evidence-based policy options; providing technical support, catalysing change and building sustainable institutional capacity; monitoring the health situation and assessing health trends.
The History of WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on April 7, 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO’s constitution states its main objective as “the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.”
In 2015, the WHO devoted $4.2 billion to health emergencies, which was Almost one-fifth of its overall budget.
The WHO’s primary role is to direct international health within the United Nations’ system and to lead partners in global health responses.
The organization also acts as a focal point for disease surveillance and outbreak response; it publishes essential Public Health Guidelines; It collects data through The Global Burden of Disease Study; And it funds research through grants and fellowships.
The WHO has helped eradicate smallpox and polio, and it supports programs that aim to control HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and other communicable diseases. The WHO also helps countries prepare for and respond to public health emergencies such as pandemics (e.g., Ebola), natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes), and man-made disasters (e.g., chemical accidents).
What is the WHO agenda?
The WHO Agenda is a global health policy and strategy document that provides guidance to member states on priority areas for action. The Agenda was first adopted in 1998 and has been updated every four years since. The current version, which was adopted in 2016, outlines six strategic priorities:
1. Ensure universal health coverage and access to quality health care services
2. Address the underlying determinants of health
3. Strengthen health systems
4. Promote healthy lifestyles
5. Enhance preparedness for and response to health emergencies
6. Improve surveillance, risk reduction and management of outbreaks
The role of WHO in public health
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 is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO’s constitution states its main objective as “the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.”
Its current priorities include communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and Zika; noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes; universal health coverage; health emergencies; nutrition, food security, and food safety; environmental health; and sexual and reproductive health.
The WHO also plays an important role in public health research and surveillance, and provides guidance onsanitation, immunization programmes, and tobacco control.
Conclusion
The World Health Organization is a critical player in global public health. From its founding after World War II, WHO has been at the forefront of international efforts to improve health and wellbeing around the world. Today, WHO continues to play a leading role in addressing global health challenges, from promoting vaccination programs to responding to disease outbreaks. WHO’s work is essential to ensuring that everyone can enjoy a healthy life, regardless of where they live.
