World Health Organization

Establishment and History:

• International Sanitary Conferences (ISC) held from 1851 to 1938 with a focus on epidemic diseases.
• WHO established in 1948 after discussions at the 1945 United Nations Conference.
• WHO constitution signed by 51 UN countries in 1946.
• Initial priorities included controlling malaria, tuberculosis, and improving maternal and child health.
• WHO absorbed health organizations post-World War II.

Mandate, Governance, and Funding:

• WHO’s mandate is to promote global health and safety.
• Governed by the World Health Assembly (WHA) composed of 194 member states.
• Funded primarily by member state contributions and private donors.
• Approved budget for 2020–2021 was over $7.2 billion.
• WHA sets goals, priorities, approves budgets, and activities.

Achievements and Programs:

• Key role in eradicating smallpox and near-eradicating polio.
• Developed Ebola vaccine and focuses on diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
• Initiatives include Expanded Programme on Immunization, Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
• Smallpox declared eradicated in 1979.
• WHO revised International Health Regulations after SARS epidemic in 2005.

Health Initiatives and Objectives:

• Focus areas include communicable and non-communicable diseases, nutrition, and substance abuse.
• Advocates for universal health care coverage and public health risk monitoring.
• WHO’s Constitution aims for the highest possible level of health for all.
• Provides leadership, shapes research agenda, sets norms, and provides technical support.
• WHO aims to promote health and well-being globally.

Global Health Impact and Response:

• WHO works on malaria control, polio eradication, and reducing deaths from chronic noncommunicable diseases.
• Addresses environmental health, life course and lifestyle factors, and digital health initiatives.
• Responds to emergencies like polio and Ebola outbreaks, coordinates with stakeholders, and implements reform efforts.
• Response to the COVID-19 pandemic included declaring a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and a pandemic in 2020.
• WHO faced criticism for its pandemic response but continued overseeing global emergency operations.

World Health Organization Data Sources