A Brief Presentation of WHO

WHO's history and structure

WHO was established in 1948 by 61 governments. Today the Organisation has 193 Member States and 2 Associate Member States. It comprises six regional offices, 147 country offices and around 8,000 staff worldwide. WHO's budget for 2006-2007 is USD 3.3 billion.

Mission of WHO

"The attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health, which is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
(From the WHO Constitution)

What is WHO about?

• Preventing and monitoring diseases
• Increasing global health security
• Developing research and strengthening health information systems
• Providing support to countries in addressing public health issues
• Implementing programmes to ensure that everyone has access to quality health care
• Setting norms, standards and guidelines
• Controlling drugs safety and access to cost-effective medications
• Promoting supportive and social environments
• Assisting in health crises

Some achievements of WHO

• Smallpox: eradicated
• River blindness: controlled in West Africa
• Leprosy: 85% reduced
• Life expectancy: increased from 46.5 to 65.2 years over the last 50 years