Advantages and Operations of WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, it is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries, and monitoring and assessing health trends. The WHO works in partnership with governments, civil society, intergovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders in order to promote equitable access to healthcare for all.
History of the WHO (World Health Organization)
The origin of the WHO dates back to the early twentieth century when international efforts began to be made to improve global health. It was not until 1945, when the United Nations was created, that international action was taken to establish global health-related organizations. At that time, the WHO was created as a specialized agency of the UN, with the first global health conference taking place in 1946 in New York. The primary goal of the WHO during this period was to improve and protect global health by developing and implementing appropriate policies and strategies. Since its creation, the WHO has continued to develop global health programmes and initiatives focusing on some of the largest public health challenges of the day.
The WHO has been instrumental in the development of global health initiatives such as the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the Global Vaccine Action Plan, and the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health. These initiatives have helped to reduce the burden of disease and improve the health of millions of people around the world. The WHO also works to strengthen health systems and promote access to quality health care for all.
Overview of the WHO’s Mission and Goals
The mission of WHO is to “promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable”. In order to achieve this, the organization has set four primary objectives: strengthening Member State capacity to respond to public health crises; developing equitable and accessible healthcare systems; accelerating progress towards universal health coverage; and ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all people. The World Health Assembly is the WHO’s highest decision-making body made up of representatives of all Member States which sets policy priorities and adopts norms and standards.
The WHO also works to provide technical assistance to countries in order to help them meet their health-related goals. This includes providing advice and guidance on health policies, developing health standards, and providing support for health systems. The WHO also works to raise awareness of global health issues and to promote health education and research. Through its work, the WHO strives to ensure that all people have access to the health care they need.
Governance Structure of the WHO
The WHO’s governing bodies include the World Health Assembly (WHA), the Executive Board (EB), and the Staff Council. The WHA consists of representatives from all Member States and is responsible for setting policy priorities and adopting resolutions as well as appointing the Director-General of WHO. The Executive Board, made up of 34 members elected by the WHA, provides guidance on organizational activities based on their experience and expertise. The Staff Council represents the interests of all WHO employees and provides advice on personnel matter.
The WHO also has a number of regional offices located around the world. These offices are responsible for providing technical assistance to Member States in their respective regions, as well as monitoring and evaluating the implementation of WHO policies and programs. The regional offices are also responsible for coordinating the activities of the WHO with other international organizations and national governments.
International Cooperation and Collaboration with the WHO
The WHO coordinates with a variety of international partners including other United Nations agencies, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Non-Governmental Organizations and Intergovernmental Organizations such as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, World Health Professions Alliance, and many others in order to promote equitable access to health services and ensure shared responsibility for global public health challenges. The World Health Summit is an additional platform used to foster international collaboration through policy dialogue on health matters.
The WHO also works with a range of partners to develop and implement global health strategies, such as the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, and the Global Vaccine Action Plan. These strategies are designed to ensure that all people have access to the health services they need, and to reduce the burden of disease and death due to preventable causes.
Financing and Funding for WHO Initiatives
The WHO’s programs are financed largely by voluntary contributions from Member State governments, as well as additional funding from institutions such as the Gates Foundation and other donors. Additionally, the organization works with private sector organizations on research initiatives as part of its commitment to Universal Health Coverage. WHO also administers funds set aside by UN member states for specific development goals.
Programs and Programs to Improve Global Health
WHO carries out a number of programs across six priority areas – Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their targets on health, Control and Eradication of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs), Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), Health Systems Strengthening (HSS), and Emerging Health Threats. These programs are designed to improve access to quality care, reduce inequities in healthcare outcomes, strengthen disease prevention, control and treatment services, and build resilient health systems globally.
Global Strategies for Disease Prevention, Control, and Treatment
WHO develops global strategies for disease prevention, control and treatment nation-wide. This includes defining clinical guidelines, situational analysis plans and providing tools and resources necessary to implement them successfully. To strengthen national capacity, the WHO works with countries in developing public health workforce capacity, technical capacities across primary health services, human resources for health management systems , surveillance systems , laboratory systems , epidemiology capacity building , assessment systems , health information systems, technical support for disease control programs , vector control programs , vector-borne diseases control , vaccines management systems , pharmaceutical management systems , access to basic technologies , waste disposal management techniques.
Evaluating the Success of the WHO’s Programs and Initiatives
WHO uses a combination of methods to evaluate its programs and initiatives. These include utilizing performance indicators that measure progress towards targets over time, assessing results against benchmarks defined at the start of programs, collecting feedback from stakeholders through surveys and interviews, holding regular external evaluations by independent experts, using process evaluations that look at program implementation effectiveness, and sharing learning among similar programs worldwide.
Challenges Facing the WHO in Achieving Its Goals
The WHO faces a variety of challenges in achieving its goals. These include inadequate resources for implementing global public health initiatives; limited engagement from local governments; limited data due to lack of surveillance systems; lack of access of priority populations to healthcare services; impact from geopolitical factors on access to resources; lack of coordination between different international players; changing epidemiology of diseases; and limited awareness about preventive measures and access to medicines.
Future Directions for the World Health Organization
Moving forward WHO will continue to work towards combatting global health challenges by strengthening partnerships with Member States at all levels in order to facilitate access to quality care, build resilient health systems, close equity gaps in healthcare outcomes, and combat infectious and non-communicable diseases.
Harmonizing data collection practices will help improve understanding of global epidemiology to shape national policies that address global public health issues. Alongside these efforts there will be a focus on innovative approaches to global development issues such as technological advancement to increase access to medical resources.
