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World Health Organisation (WHO) - Coggle Diagram
World Health Organisation (WHO)
What is the WHO and what does it do?
Established in 1948 and headquartered in Geneva, WHO is the directing and co-ordinating authority on international health within the UN system. It works closely with other international organisations, such as, UNICEF and World Bank with NGOs.
It collects data from 194 member states and publishes them annually in its World Health Statistics.
Supporting Programmes
Following the 2015 Nepal earthquake disaster, WHO delivered emergency health services in the form of mobile medical units and supported foreign medical teams in areas worst hit by the earthquake.
In Liberia, the 2014-15 Ebola epidemic caused the total collapse of the country's health care services, leaving it unable to cope with a serious outbreak of measles. WHO, together with UNICEF and the US CDC, stepped in and organised a country-wide measles vaccination programme to control the spread of the disease.
WHO's role in research
WHO also researches health issues. Among its many research groups are those dedicated to influenza, tropical diseases, mental health and vaccines.
Research projects are often partnerships with other international agencies. For example, it is currently collaborating with multi-agency Stop TB Partnership, which aims to eradicate TB by 2050.
What is the WHO's brief?
Monitoring the international health sitaution
Supporting UN member states to devise health strategies
Researching health problems
Providing technical support during health crises
Providing leadership and identifying priority areas in matters critical to health
Gathering health data
WHO's role in raising awareness
WHO takes a leading role in increasing awareness of epidemics and outbreaks of new diseases, such as the Zika virus in 2016, and develops global strategies to combat diseases.
It sets targets to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. Promoting research into new drugs and insecticides is also important. So too ia its work in predicting the spread of diseases.