WHO is an international agency of the United Nations designated to provide information on health and the condition of the environments in which people live. The World Health Organization is an intergovernmental agency of the United Nations designated to provide information on health and the condition of the environments in which people live. The WHO Constitution states that its purpose is “the achievement by all peoples of the maximum degree of medical care”. It also says that the provisions of this Constitution are intended to eliminate disparity relating to race, religion, sex, nationalities and the social order. The agency was created by the United Nations in May 1961 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The mission of WHO is to coordinate the effort of countries within the United Nations System for the control and prevention of diseases and conditions that can cause health problems and to promote measures for the protection of the world’s population from hazardous environmental situations that may lead to health problems.

WHO is not responsible for all healthcare. It is an international intergovernmental organization concerned with the improvement of health globally through cooperation among all countries. Countries submit their plans for action to WHO and are then reviewed and advised on how best to carry out their plans. WHO is involved in the planning and management of all projects concerning the elimination of hazardous diseases, especially those that affect humans, such as chronic Hepatitis and HIV, and is involved in research into new methods of prevention and treatment of these diseases. It is also responsible for examining the risks for developing nations and providing assistance to them if required.

WHO is one of the largest organizations in the world with a staff of more than 927 scientists and experts. WHO is part of the United Nations System and coordinates health activities of all its member countries. The world health statistics indicate that despite the introduction of many disease control measures around the world, some diseases continue to remain resistant to most of the public and medical strategies. The increasing number of people living in developed countries is contributing to this problem as they have a higher propensity to suffer from some of these common diseases.

WHO’s activities are geared up to preventing and treating epidemics, improving quality of life, implementing global health policy, and upholding global health principles. WHO is headed by an elected group of general members who are elected every year by the membership of its forty member countries. The current head is Mary Robinson, a Canadian citizen. She has been the WHO executive director since 1996. She is responsible for the organization’s budget, management and policy formulation.

Prevention and treatment of disease are the keys to prolonging life and slowing down the growth of disease-causing germs and bacteria. Prevention is better than cure because a cure may eliminate the cause of an epidemic, but if the symptoms appear again, it can simply spread to other parts of the world and increase the severity of the symptoms. WHO has many tools to prevent diseases and to fight against them. However, with the increase in population and rapid urbanization occurring in many cities in developing countries, the need for effective and affordable public health solutions is also growing.

WHO works closely with the public, governments, private organizations, civil society, and WHO experts to co-ordinate efforts for the fight against diseases. WHO statistics provide the key data on disease incidence and prevalence, and monitor trends and gaps in prevention and control. WHO also conducts research into vital questions surrounding the causes of diseases, such as the genetic architecture of diseases, the evolution of immunity among populations, and the impact of cultural diversity and nutrition on health. WHO aims to make all the knowledge and resources available to the public on the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease so that the world can live in a healthy environment without any major medical, social, or environmental outbreaks caused by infectious agents. If you want to take part in this important work, please visit WHO website and register.