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WHO began when the Constitution came into force on 7 April 1948 – a date which is now celebrated every year as World Health Day. There are more than 7000 people working in 150 country offices, in six regional offices and at the headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The primary role is to direct and coordinate international health within the United Nations system.
More About WHO
- The main areas of work are:
. health systems
. health through the life-course
. non communicable and communicable diseases
. preparedness, surveillance and response
. corporate services.
- They support countries, as they coordinate the efforts of governments and partners, including bi- and multilaterals, funds and foundations, civil society organizations and the private sector.
- WHO, as the directing and coordinating authority on international health within the United Nations system, adheres to the UN values of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity.
- WHO works worldwide to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. The goal is to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and well-being.
Functions of WHO
- For universal health coverage
. focus on primary health care to improve access to quality essential services
. work towards sustainable financing and financial protection
. improve access to essential medicines and health products
. train the health workforce and advise on labour policies
. support people’s participation in national health policies
. improve monitoring, data and information
- For health emergencies
. prepare for emergencies by identifying, mitigating and managing risks
. prevent emergencies and support development of tools necessary during outbreaks
. detect and respond to acute health emergencies
. support delivery of essential health services in fragile settings.
- For health and well being
. address social determinants
. promote intersectoral approaches for health
. prioritize health in all policies and healthy settings.
- Through their work, WHO addresses
. human capital across the life-course
. non communicable diseases prevention
. mental health promotion
. climate change in small island developing states
. antimicrobial resistance
. elimination and eradication of high-impact communicable diseases.
Role of WHO in COVID-19
- WHO has issued a COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, which identifies the major actions countries need to take, and the resources needed to carry them out.
- The health agency’s six regional offices, and 150 country offices, work closely with governments around the world to prepare their health systems for the ravages of COVID-19.
- With partners, WHO set up the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, to ensure patients get the care they need, and frontline workers get essential supplies and information; and to accelerate research and development of a vaccine and treatments for all who need them.
- The internet is awash with information about the pandemic, some of it useful, some of it false or misleading. In the midst of this “infodemic”, WHO is producing accurate, useful guidance that can help save lives.
- Countries are also being supported by experts, deployed around the world by the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). During outbreaks, the network ensures that the right technical expertise and skills are on the ground where and when they are needed most.
