World Health Organization: Goals, Tasks, and Classifications

World Health Organization (WHO)

Overview

• Specialized agency of the United Nations, established in 1948
• Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with 193 member states
• Official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish

Major Tasks

• Combating infectious diseases (e.g., leprosy, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS)
• Addressing non-communicable diseases (e.g., cancer)
• Promoting overall global health

WHO Constitution

• Defines health as complete physical, mental, and social well-being
• Enshrines the right to health for all, regardless of background

WHO Structure and Funding

World Health Assembly

• Composed of delegations from member states
• Elects the Director-General and oversees financial policies

Funding Sources

• Member state contributions
• Donor organizations
• Private sector and pharmaceutical companies

Regional Offices

• Africa (Brazzaville, Congo)
• Americas (Washington, DC, USA)
• Eastern Mediterranean (Cairo, Egypt)
• Europe (Copenhagen, Denmark)
• South East Asia (New Delhi, India)
• Western Pacific (Manila, Philippines)

WHO Goals and Tasks

Government Responsibility and Health Promotion

• Governments are responsible for ensuring adequate health and social measures for their populations.
• WHO promotes health through various initiatives and programs.

Disease Control and Prevention

• Controlling and eradicating epidemic, endemic, and other infectious diseases
• Promoting accident prevention
• Improving nutrition, housing, sanitation, and environmental hygiene
• Addressing maternal and child health, mental health, and public health administration

Technology and Guidelines

• Developing and testing new technologies for disease control
• Providing tools and guidelines for risk reduction, health care management, immunization, and disaster response

WHO International Regulations

International Health Regulations (IHR)

• Aim to prevent the international spread of diseases while minimizing disruption to travel and trade.
• Originated in the 19th century to address cholera epidemics.
• Currently focus on cholera, plague, and yellow fever, with surveillance of other communicable diseases.

Global Health Challenges

Maternal and Child Health

• Pregnancy and childbirth remain leading causes of death and disability for women in developing countries.
• Millions of women suffer from pregnancy-related illnesses, and many lack access to skilled birth attendants.
• Child mortality is concentrated in a few countries, with significant disparities between developed and developing regions.

Active Ageing

• Focuses on optimizing opportunities for health, participation, and security as people age.
• Emphasizes enablement and inclusion of older adults in society.

Physical Activity

• Regular physical activity, such as brisk walking, significantly improves health.
• Strategies to promote physical activity should encompass transportation, recreation, and urban planning.

Drugs for the Elderly

• High drug expenditure in many countries raises concerns about affordability and access to primary health care.
• Older adults account for a significant portion of drug consumption.

Intersectoral Collaboration

• Improving coordination between health and social services is crucial for addressing complex health challenges.

International Classifications

International Classification of Diseases (ICD)

• ICD-10 is the current standard for classifying diseases and health problems.
• Used for epidemiological purposes, health management, and vital records.
• Available in multiple languages.

International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)

• Complements ICD by describing how people live with health conditions.
• Classifies body functions, activities, participation, and environmental factors.
• Useful for understanding and measuring health outcomes at individual and population levels.