WHO Flashcards
(15 cards)
Overview of WHO
International organization with 194 member states.
Part of the United Nations (UN).
Headquarters in Geneva, with six regional offices.
Considered the global guardian of public health.
Standard to which many national governments and charities refer.
Works closely with other UN agencies like UNICEF and the World Bank, as well as international charities like Médecins Sans Frontières and the International Red Cross.
Key Roles of WHO
Setting Standards and Guidelines
Collecting Health Data
Monitoring Health Situations
Providing Technical Support
Researching Healthcare Issues
Devising Strategies and Policies
Setting Standards and Guidelines
Leading in setting health standards and guidelines on key issues.
Employing experts and researchers to determine safe levels for various health factors.
Example: Setting the safe level for particulate matter in the air at 10 micrograms per meter cubed.
Identifying and prioritizing key health issues for countries to address.
Examples: Combating drug resistance, ending epidemics like AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and tackling the increase in non-communicable diseases.
Collecting Health Data
Gathering data from 194 member states.
Publishing an annual report called “World Health Statistics.”
Covering data such as death rates, life expectancy, government healthcare spending, and progress toward sustainable development goals.
Creating country profiles to show the primary causes of death and other health-related statistics in specific countries.
Example: The country profile of Ireland indicates that the main causes of death are non-communicable diseases.
Monitoring Health Situations
Overseeing global health issues, including disease outbreaks and endemic conditions.
Monitoring emerging diseases such as COVID-19 and monkeypox, as well as long-term issues like dementia and HIV.
Example: WHO monitored the COVID-19 situation as it emerged from Wuhan, China in 2020.
Providing Technical Support
Assisting countries in preparing for health emergencies
Supporting prevention and control efforts
Sending technical support during health crises
Coordinating the emergency health response during the Ebola outbreak in Liberia in 2014, including a country-wide vaccination program for measles.
Providing guidance and support during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as setting up vaccination centers and issuing guidelines on hand washing, mask-wearing, and social distancing.
Researching Healthcare Issues
Conducting research to prevent future health issues.
Collaborating with organizations to research diseases and develop vaccines.
Working with national governments and pharmaceutical companies.
Example: WHO collaborated with GlaxoSmithKline and other organizations to develop a malaria vaccine (Mosquirix), which has been approved and used to protect over a million children in Africa.
Devising Strategies and Policies
Working with member states to develop and implement health strategies and policies.
Aligning national goals with the UN and WHO’s global health goals.
Example: Working with the Ethiopian government to reduce malaria incidence by 50% by 2023, aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Criticisms of WHO
A significant portion of WHO’s funding comes from voluntary contributions from member states, which can affect its independence and priorities.
Developed countries like Germany, the USA, and the UK contribute significantly to the WHO’s funding.
Private organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also provide substantial funding.
This can be problematic if a country decides to reduce its funding, impacting the WHO’s global work.
Example: Trump withdrew funding in 2020 due to concerns about the WHO’s focus on China. This resulted in a loss of millions of dollars. Joe Biden has since reinstated funding.
Criticisms and Challenges Faced by the WHO
Slow Response Times
Advisory Role Limitations
Organizational Challenges
Slow Response Times
The WHO has been criticized for reacting slowly to disease outbreaks.
Example: During the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, an independent research team from Harvard found that the WHO was slow to declare an international health emergency, despite receiving data from affected countries (Guinea, Liberia, and West Africa) beforehand.
Advisory Role Limitations
The WHO is primarily an advisory organization, and its guidelines are not legally binding.
Member states can choose to ignore the WHO’s advice.
Example: Many cities in India have pollution levels that are far above the safe levels recommended by the WHO.
During COVID-19, some countries ignored advice and chose not to implement lockdowns. Sweden is a notable example.
Organizational Challenges
The WHO is a large global organization with over 194 member states.
It is often criticized for being stretched too thinly across various areas.
This can reduce its effectiveness in addressing complex health issues like HIV and AIDS.
Real-World Impact
The WHO’s slow response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa led to the deaths of 11,000 people.
Many Indian cities experience smog and pollution levels that are five to six times higher than the safe levels recommended by the WHO.
