WHO is considered to be the acronym for World Health Organization, it is a specialized agency within the United Nations system. It was created in April 1948 to act as the directing and coordinating authority in sanitary affairs and public health at the international level. WHO's mission is to bring all peoples to the highest possible level of health so that they can enjoy socially and economically productive lives. WHO provides its constructive and technical services, helping to train specialist personnel in general health.
This organization has two main functions: technical cooperation with the countries and directing international cooperation in health matters by adopting, when necessary, specific measures in the field of health, developing and transferring technology, and disseminating information through publications, preparing regulations, standards, plans and policies and surveillance and monitoring models, as well as the promotion of research and technical consultations.
As a result of globalization, communicable diseases such as AIDS or a disease with a worldwide spread, such as the A1N1 flu, need coordinated international responses that only a global organization such as WHO can help implement.
WHO provides specialized advice on issues of epidemiological control, communicable diseases, and emergency health training. Its activities include the supply of medicines and emergency supplies, the deployment of emergency assessment missions and technical support.
The structure of the WHO is made up of a main and highest body known as the World Health Assembly, which determines the norms of action of the organization, is represented by its 193 member countries, which meet annually; the Executive Council that acts as the executive organ of the Assembly; and the Secretariat, which is made up of a Director General and the necessary technical and administrative staff.
WHO is headquartered in Geneva (Switzerland), and maintains regional continental offices in Southeast Asia (New Delhi, India), the eastern part of the Mediterranean (Cairo, Egypt), Europe (Copenhagen, Denmark), Africa (Brazzaville, Republic of Congo), America (Washington DC, United States) and the western Pacific (Manila, Philippines).
For its health and humanitarian work, in 2009, the institution was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation. In 2000, the United Nations Millennium General Assembly defined a series of health goals to be achieved by 2015, deciding that the WHO follow up on these issues.
