WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the organisation coordinates global health initiatives, sets health standards and provides technical assistance to member states. WHO's mandate encompasses disease surveillance and response, health systems strengthening, essential medicines and vaccines, and the development of international health regulations. The organisation operates through six regional offices covering Africa, the Americas, South-East Asia, Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western Pacific. WHO plays a central role in coordinating responses to health emergencies, including pandemics such as Covid-19, and endemic diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. The organisation also leads efforts to combat outbreaks of infectious diseases including Ebola, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where it works closely with national health authorities and regional bodies such as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. WHO is governed by the World Health Assembly, comprising representatives from 194 member states, which sets policy and approves the budget. The organisation is led by a director-general elected by the assembly for a five-year term. WHO's work is funded through assessed contributions from member states and voluntary contributions from governments, foundations and other partners. The organisation has been instrumental in the eradication of smallpox, the near-eradication of polio and the establishment of global health norms and standards that shape national health policies worldwide.