The World Health Organization, known famously as WHO, is an organization that works toward their goal of fighting diseases, including common, yet dangerous communicable ones like influenza and HIV as well as noncommunicable diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Alongside the fight against these diseases, WHO also is committed to help children and their mothers survive in a healthier, happier way to help them reach a healthy old age in places where sometimes that seems impossible. This is done through not only delivering the vaccines and medicines they need for better health, but to ensure the safety of the water they drink, the food they eat and the air they breathe.
WHO currently operates from more than 150 offices around the world, and in total, there are more than 7,000 people who work in them. There are 194 different member states found in six different regional areas, including the headquarters that is located in Geneva, Switzerland. All of the helpful hands in this organization are united toward the common goal of promoting a healthier, brighter future for everyone.
The main role of WHO is to work in direct coordination with the United Nations to promote international health through areas of health systems such as health throughout the different stages of life, combating both communicable and non-communicable diseases, disease preparedness and general corporate services. This includes working for general, universal health services that outlast time including giving access to health care and essential services while also securing a sustainable financial plan for keeping the health services in place. This includes close monitoring of data and information on the outcomes.
When it comes to health emergencies, WHO works quickly to identify the health crisis and manage the risks to prevent the spread of the disease. They also mobilize preventative methods that help to stop these emergencies before they start while also helping to develop important tools to be used later in the event of outbreaks. In the case of acute health emergencies, they are able to detect and quickly respond in order to deliver crucial health services even in the most fragile of locations.
WHO works all across the globe in various countries that need support toward the coordination of governments and their partners toward achieving a healthier society. This includes working with foundations and funds, bi- and multi-lateral partners, the private sector and civil society organizations alike. By working together with such important actors, WHO is able to achieve their objectives toward a healthier world, going so far as to support the national health strategies and policies needed to make a difference.
There are a variety of programmes that WHO employs to target the various, specific health needs around the world, and included in their expansive programmes are health issues that include cancer, blood transfusion safety, child growth standards, various chronic diseases, deafness prevention, disability, rehabilitation and more. With so many specific programmes, they are able to more easily reach their goals and keep themselves established as one of the most crucial organizations in the world.
