What is the World Health Organization (WHO), and what does it do?
TL;DR: The WHO does a lot of crucial global public health work. They help countries communicate during disease outbreaks. Their researchers and scientists provide best practices for all sorts of health-related concerns.
The WHO, or the World Health Organization, was founded in 1948. It is part of the United Nations and includes 194 member countries. It works to connect nations in the event of health emergencies and to promote health across the world. They also have dozens of health initiatives, from adolescent health to mental health and water sanitation. They provide information on best practices for public health to countries on all of these topics.
So what do they actually do?
The WHO’s constitution states that they coordinate international health work, spearhead collaboration with governmental health organizations, help governments with health concerns as requested, and help disseminate research and evidence-based health policy suggestions. To make all of that happen, they have an enormous staff of scientists, doctors, public health specialists, and economists who all combine data and clinical experience to guide global standards on public health measures. All of these professionals work towards making the world healthier and preventing large-scale health crises.
All of their stated purposes come together during disease outbreaks. For example, if there is an outbreak in a member country, that country’s government will report it to the WHO. The WHO can then help that country with their response, including assisting with disease surveillance, and, when needed, sending medical equipment and aid workers. However, they must be invited by the country. They can also then inform other countries in the vicinity about the outbreak and help those countries brainstorm if a disease travels across borders. They oversee more than 35 emergency operations for various epidemics internationally.
The WHO is also involved in helping with global vaccine efforts. Their global vaccine action plan works to unite vaccine manufacturers and countries to help prevent deaths from diseases like pneumonia, measles, and tetanus. They help low and middle-income countries access vaccines and help provide routine immunization coverage within those countries.
Criticism of the WHO
The WHO has been criticized over the years for its sluggish response to certain outbreaks, such as during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa or the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. That said, they have a lot of accountability processes. For example, they have an independent oversight committee and evaluation office that provides recommendations to address shortcomings. They also publish a yearly report that includes information about how they addressed any concerns that came up in emergency responses.
Where Does the WHO Get Funding From?
The WHO is funded by a set percentage of its member countries’ gross domestic product (GDP). This percentage is agreed upon by the United Nations General Assembly and is revisited every few years. Outside of that, the WHO is also funded by non-profit groups like the Rockefeller Foundation, the Bloomberg Family Foundation, and other philanthropic organizations.
Overall, the WHO does a lot of important work to make the world a healthier place. Like any large organization, they have their problems, but their health initiatives around water sanitation, vaccines, and more have gone a long way in preventing people from getting sick.
About the WHO:
