The World Health Organization ( WHO ) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health Organization, which had been an agency of the League of Nations.
Constitution and history
The WHO's constitution states that its objective "is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health ." Its major task is to combat disease, especially key infectious diseases, and to promote the general health of the people of the world.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is one of the original agencies of the United Nations, its constitution formally coming into force on the first World Health Day, (7 April 1948), when it was ratified by the 26th member state. Prior to this its operations, as well as the remaining activities of the League of Nations Health Organization, were under the control of an Interim Commission following an International Health Conference in the summer of 1946. The transfer was authorized by a Resolution of the General Assembly. The epidemiological service of the French Office International d'Hygiène Publique was incorporated into the Interim Commission of the World Health Organization on January 1st, 1947.
Activities
As well as coordinating international efforts to monitor outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as SARS, malaria, swine flu, and AIDS the WHO also sponsors programs to prevent and treat such diseases. The WHO supports the development and distribution of safe and effective vaccines, pharmaceutical diagnostics, and drugs. After over 2 decades of fighting smallpox, the WHO declared in 1980 that the disease had been eradicated – the first disease in history to be eliminated by human effort.
The WHO aims to eradicate polio within the next few years. The organization has already endorsed the world's first official HIV/AIDS Toolkit for Zimbabwe (from 3 October 2006), making it an international standard.
In addition to its work in eradicating disease, the WHO also carries out various health-related campaigns — for example, to boost the consumption of fruits and vegetables worldwide and to discourage tobacco use.
Experts met at the WHO headquarters in Geneva in February, 2007, and reported that their work on pandemic influenza vaccine development had achieved encouraging progress. More than 40 clinical trials have been completed or are ongoing. Most have focused on healthy adults. Some companies, after completing safety analysis in adults, have initiated clinical trials in the elderly and in children. All vaccines so far appear to be safe and well-tolerated in all age groups tested.
The WHO also promotes the development of capacities in Member States to use and produce research that addresses national needs, by bolstering national health research systems and promoting knowledge translation platforms such as the Evidence Informed Policy Network -EVIPNet. WHO and its regional offices are working to develop regional policies on research for health -the first one being the Regional Office for the Americas PAHO/AMRO that had its Policy on Research for Health approved in September 2009 by its 49th Directing Council Document CD 49.10.
WHO also conducts some research; for example, whether the electromagnetic field surrounding cell phones has an impact on health. Some of this work can be controversial, as illustrated by the April, 2003, joint WHO/FAO report, which recommended that sugar should form no more than 10% of a healthy diet. This report led to lobbying by the sugar industry against the recommendation, to which the WHO/FAO responded by including in the report the statement "The Consultation recognized that a population goal for free sugars of less than 10% of total energy is controversial", but also stood by its recommendation based upon its own analysis of scientific studies.
Publishing
- International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is a widely followed publication. The tenth revision of the ICD, also known as ICD-10, was released in 1992 and a searchable version is available online on the WHO website. Later revisions are indexed and available in hard-copy versions. The WHO does not permit simultaneous classification in two separate areas.
- The annual World Health Report, first published in 1995, is the WHO's leading publication. Each year the report combines an expert assessment of global health, including statistics relating to all countries, with a focus on a specific subject. The World Health Report 2007 – A safer future: global public health security in the 21st centurywas published on August 23, 2006.
- A model list of essential medicines that all countries' health-care systems should make available and affordable to the general population.
- Global plan of action on workers' health is a draft to protect and promote health in the workplace, to improve the performance of and access to occupational health services, and to incorporate workers' health into other policies. The WHO has emphasized the effort because, despite the availability of effective interventions to prevent occupational hazards, large gaps exist between and within countries with regard to the health status of workers and their exposure to occupational risks. According to the WHO, only a small minority of the global workforce has access to occupational health services. The action plan deals with aspects of workers' health, including primary prevention of occupational hazards, protection and promotion of health at work, employment conditions, and a better response from health systems to workers' health.
- Health Sciences Online is a non-profit online health information resource from the World Health Organization.
The WHO website A guide to statistical information at WHO has an online version of the most recent WHO health statistics.
According to The WHO Programme on Health Statistics:The production and dissemination of health statistics for health action at country, regional and global levels is a core WHO activity mandated to WHO by its Member States in its Constitution. WHO produced figures carry great weight in national and international resource allocation, policy making and programming, based on its reputation as "unbiased" (impartial and fair), global (not belonging to any camp), and technically competent (consulting leading research and policy institutions and individuals).
Programs and Projects
- African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC)
- Yellow Card or Carte Jaune, is an international certificate of vaccination (ICV) issued by the WHO. It is recognised internationally and may be required for entering certain countries where there are more health risks for travellers. The Yellow Card should be kept in the holder's passport as it is a medical passport of sorts.
- Collaborating centres are institutions designated by the director-general that work to support WHO programs.
- Global Burden of Disease project (GBD)
- Global Initiative for Emergency and Essential Surgical Care
- Global Malaria Programme (GMP)
- Prequalification of Medicines Programme (PMP page)
- International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), with ILO and UNEP
- International Radon Project
- World Health Day is celebrated every year on 7 April.
Conventions
- Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs
- Convention on Psychotropic Substances
- World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Research Policy Documents
- PAHO Policy on Research for Health
- Report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property. Document WHA 61/9. 2008
- World Health Organization’s roles and responsibilities in health research. Document WHA 60/23. 2007
- World Health Organization. World Health Assembly, Resolution WHA 58.34 Geneva: WHO; 2005
- Ministerial Summit on Health Research. The Mexico Statement on Health Research. Knowledge for better health: strengthening health systems. Mexico City, 16-20 November 2004
Private sector partnerships
- Aeras: Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation
- DNDi: Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative
- FIND: Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics
- IASP: International Association for Suicide Prevention
- IAVI: International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
- IOWH: Institute for One World Health
- IPM: International Partnership for Microbicides
- MMV: Medicines for Malaria Venture
- MVI: Malaria Vaccine Initiative
- PATH: Program for Appropriate Technology in Health
- PDVI: Pediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative
- TB Alliance: Global Alliance for TB Drug Development
- GAVI Alliance: Global alliance for vaccines
Structure
The WHO has 193 Member States, including all UN Member States except Liechtenstein , and 2 non-UN members, Niue and the Cook Islands. Territories that are not UN Member States may join as Associate Members (with full information but limite
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