The World Health Organization was birthed out of the international cooperation through the speedy ratification of the Charter for World Health by the twenty-six member of the United Nations. The World Health Organization thus called into being is a collective instrument whose purpose is to promote physical and mental vigor, prevent and control diseases, expand scientific health knowledge, and contribute to the harmony of human relations.
It has absorbed the Office International d’Hygiene Publique, the Health Section of the League of Nations, and the epidemiologic intelligence of the health section of the United Nations’ Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. The organization and functions of the World Health Organization were published in full in public Health Reports, Vol. 61, August 30, 1946. W. H. O. came into official existence on April 7, 1948 as a specialized agency of the United Nations with headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland.
It acts as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work; its aim is the attainment by all people of the “highest possible level of health”. Health is defined by the organization as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. ” The governing body is the World Health Assembly composed of delegates from all member states. It meets once a year usually at Geneva, but occasionally elsewhere as invited by a member government.
It alone decides the policies, program, and budget of the organization. The assembly chooses the countries entitled to designate one member each on the 24-man Executive Board, which meets twice a year, scrutinizes the program and budget proposed by the director general for the succeeding year. It carries out investigations and surveys requested by the assembly, and reports to that body. The director general is responsible for the day-to-day work of the organization.
He appoints the staff working at the Geneva headquarters, in the regional offices, and in the field projects. Six regional organizations —- each compose of a regional committee, on which all governments in the region are represented, and of a regional office — are responsible for the conduct of the organization’s work in Europe, the Americas, Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and the western pacific. Success in achieving its aim varies from region to region.
In developing countries, diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and STDs are major battles that face WHO. On the other hand, while developed countries had showed considerable control over such diseases, concern for its aging population is acknowledged as a major challenge. As of the month of December, 2007 WHO is coordinating with the government health authorities in affected countries to end the spread of fatal diseases such as the Ebola hemorrhagic fever in Western Uganda and the Avian flu in China.
Global warming is also a global issue recognized by WHO. While health problems would seem insurmountable, WHO attempts its worldwide fight over diseases by continuing its steady, yet forceful dissemination of information about the maintenance of health. It takes advantage of the advancement in information by utilizing the internet in the publication of its materials.
Also, greater understanding is achieved through its Knowledge management by the exchange of knowledge among member states. In view of the staggering needs of the world’s people for more and better trained medical personnel and more adequate health services, the financial and staff resources of WHO are quite limited. However, its importance is well-recognized as an instrument in the international drive for better health.