Title: The World Health Organisation (WHO).

Summary of Role:

The WHO promotes human health internationally as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being" (http://www.who.int/aboutwho/en/). The World Health Organisation aims to control, prevent and if possible eradicate diseases. It does this through many methods including immunisation programmes, improving public awareness, development work, provision of technical assistance and co-ordination of research. It also issues standards and guidelines and has procedures for disease reporting and information exchange. Among the standards it sets are those for "food, biological and pharmaceutical products" such as its biosafety guidelines and the international food standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Summary of Development:

The World Health Organisation is a specialised agency of the United Nations and was founded in 1948. It is led by the World Health Assembly that is made up of delegates from WHO member states. The WHO began a campaign in 1967 to eradicate small pox which it had achieved by 1980. It was aiming to eradicate or eliminate another six diseases by 2000 (http://www.who.int/aboutwho/en/disease_er.htm). It identifies its current and future challenges as being the return of old diseases such as tuberculosis and cholera, the emergence of new diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Ebola and the decreasing effectiveness of antibiotics. It also recognises social trends such as overpopulation, pollution and increased air travel as threats to human health (http://www.who.int/aboutwho/en/good.htm).

Current Status:

The WHO has 193 member states.

World Health Organisation

home

Related Summaries on the Genomics Gateway Site:

WHO Guidance on Regulations for the Transport of Infectious Substances

WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual

WHO Laboratory Biosecurity Guidance

International Health Regulations

Page last updated 26th March 2009.

Comments/enquiries to catherine.rhodes-2 'at' manchester.ac.uk