World health organization

World Health Organization (WHO)

World Health Organization (WHO) /ˈwɜːrld hɛlθ ɔːɡənaɪˈzeɪʃən/ is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group.

Etymology

The term "World Health Organization" is a descriptive name that signifies the organization's global role and mission in health matters. The acronym "WHO" is derived from the initial letters of the organization's full name.

Related Terms

Public Health: The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals.
United Nations: An international organization formed in 1945 to increase political and economic cooperation among its member countries.
Epidemiology: The study and analysis of the distribution, patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in defined populations.
Pandemic: An epidemic of an infectious disease that has spread across a large region, for instance multiple continents, or worldwide.

Functions and Responsibilities

The WHO's constitution states that its objective "is the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health." Its major task is to combat disease, especially key infectious diseases, and to promote the general health of the people of the world.

Structure

The World Health Organization is governed by member states through the World Health Assembly and the Executive Board. The WHO relies on voluntary contributions from member states and private donors for a large portion of its budget.

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski

World health organization