WHO

WHO
Name	World Health Organization
Type	Specialized agency of the United Nations
Headquarters	Geneva, Switzerland
Established	7 April 1948
Leader title	Director-General
Leader name	Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Website	https://www.who.int

WHO. The World Health Organization is a Specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on 7 April 1948 and headquartered in Geneva, its stated mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. The organization provides leadership on global health matters, shapes the health research agenda, sets norms and standards, articulates evidence-based policy options, and provides technical support to countries.

History

The constitution of the organization was signed by representatives of 61 countries in July 1946, coming into force after ratification by the 26th member state. Its founding followed earlier international health efforts, including the work of the Health Organization of the League of Nations and the International Sanitary Conferences. A seminal early achievement was the global eradication of smallpox, declared in 1980 after a massive vaccination campaign. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, the organization tackled diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS, while also developing the influential International Classification of Diseases. Key historical figures in its formation include Brock Chisholm, its first Director-General, and Andrija Štampar, a key drafter of its constitution.

Structure and governance

The organization's supreme decision-making body is the World Health Assembly, which meets annually in Geneva with delegations from all member states. The Executive Board, composed of 34 technically qualified members, acts as the executive organ. Six semi-autonomous regional offices guide work tailored to specific areas: the Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, the Regional Office for the Americas in Washington, D.C., the Regional Office for South-East Asia in New Delhi, the Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen, the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo, and the Regional Office for the Western Pacific in Manila. Day-to-day work is coordinated by the headquarters Secretariat under the Director-General.

Activities and programmes

Core activities include directing and coordinating international health responses during emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and the 2009 swine flu pandemic. It manages global programmes for immunization, neglected tropical diseases, and non-communicable diseases like cancer and diabetes. The organization sets international health regulations and standards for food safety, water quality, and medical products. Major initiatives include the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and the Global Vaccine Action Plan. It also publishes the influential World Health Report and maintains the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines.

Leadership and key people

The Director-General is elected by the World Health Assembly for a five-year term. The current Director-General is Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, former Minister of Health of Ethiopia, who began his first term in 2017. Notable past leaders include Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway, who emphasized health and development, and Hiroshi Nakajima, whose tenure saw expansion in the Western Pacific Region. Other key figures have included scientists like David Nabarro, who led crisis responses, and Margaret Chan, who directed the organization during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the 2009 swine flu pandemic.

Funding and budget

The organization is financed through assessed contributions from member states and voluntary contributions from member states and other partners. Major voluntary donors include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The approved programme budget for 2022-2023 was over six billion US dollars. A significant portion of funding is earmarked for specific programmes, which can affect strategic flexibility. Key financial mechanisms include the Contingency Fund for Emergencies and the WHO Foundation, established to broaden the donor base.

Criticism and controversies

The organization has faced criticism for its response speed during health crises, notably the perceived slow reaction to the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its relationship with the People's Republic of China. It has been scrutinized for budgetary reliance on voluntary earmarked funds and potential influence from private donors like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Other controversies include the declaration of the 2009 swine flu pandemic and subsequent vaccine policies, management reforms, and internal allegations regarding misconduct during the Ebola virus epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Category:World Health Organization Category:United Nations specialized agencies Category:Health organizations