The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for directing and coordinating international health within the UN system.
Mission and Vision
WHO’s objective, as stated in its Constitution, is “the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.”
Its modern mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.
- Definition of Health: WHO defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
- Founding: The WHO Constitution came into force on April 7, 1948, a date celebrated annually as World Health Day.
Core Functions
WHO fulfills its mission through several key functions:
- Providing Leadership and Shaping the Research Agenda: Directing and coordinating global efforts on critical health issues, and stimulating the generation and sharing of valuable knowledge.
- Setting Norms and Standards: Developing international health regulations, guidelines, standards, and protocols for everything from vaccination schedules and medical treatments to the quality and safety of medicines and food.
- Providing Technical Support and Catalyzing Change: Offering expertise and resources to countries to strengthen their national health systems, especially focusing on primary health care and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
- Monitoring the Health Situation and Assessing Trends: Collecting and analyzing global health data to identify disease patterns, track outbreaks, and prepare for future health risks.
- Coordinating Health Emergency Responses: Leading the world’s response to health crises, including pandemics, disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises, and having the authority to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Current Priorities: The Triple Billion Targets
WHO’s strategic plan (Thirteenth General Programme of Work) focuses on achieving three ambitious “Triple Billion” targets by working with its 194 Member States:
| Target | Goal |
| Billion 1 | One billion more people benefiting from Universal Health Coverage (UHC). |
| Billion 2 | One billion more people better protected from health emergencies. |
| Billion 3 | One billion more people enjoying better health and well-being. |
Notable Achievements
WHO has been instrumental in several major public health milestones, including:
- Eradication of Smallpox: Led the successful global campaign that resulted in the worldwide eradication of smallpox by 1980.
- Polio Reduction: Its massive immunization drives have resulted in a reduction of global polio cases by over 99%.
- International Health Regulations (IHR): A legally binding international agreement designed to help countries prevent and respond to acute public health risks that have the potential to cross borders and threaten people worldwide.
Reference: AI-generated contents from various sources.