The World Health Organization
The WHO Mission and Vision
The World Health Organization is the United Nation’s agency responsible for health. It was founded on 7th April 1948, annually commemorated as World Health Day. It operates from Geneva and operates six regional offices and over 100 field offices worldwide. The WHO’s central vision is to enable individuals to attain the highest possible health standards worldwide.
The mission statement refers to health promotion and safety while serving the at-risk society and achieving outcomes desired. The organization’s goals are advocating universal health coverage, responding to public health issues, and monitoring healthcare risks (Cueto et al., 2019). It is currently involved in both infectious and non-communicable diseases.
The WHO contribution to Public Health and safety
The decision making body is the world health assembly, comprising 194 states. They elect the executive board consisting of health professionals. It also meets annually in selecting the director General, goal and priority setting, and budget approvals.
The organization also assists countries with technical assistance and standard healthcare settings while performing data collection and healthcare information analysis. The WHO is the world’s foremost health organization. The organization has played a crucial role in fighting pandemics, such as the COVID19 pandemic. It has coordinated a global and unified response to combating the pandemic and vaccine development process.
Promotion of equal opportunity and improvement of quality of life
As the supreme authority on global healthcare in the UN, the WHO adheres to the traditional UN values of respecting diversity, highest integrity levels, and professionalism in its undertakings. The organization also subscribes to the Geneva Convention on human rights and established health and ethical protocols in use. The organization has been at the forefront of championing vulnerable countries’ cause and imploring wealthier nations to support their less developed counterparts.
The organization has worked with African countries to contain the spread of Ebola. It has also been at the forefront of preventing the re-emergence of Polio in Somalia and Yemen and providing a quick and timely response. The organization publishes a yearly book detailing health-related challenges to its member countries at the Geneva annual convention. The organization is apolitical undergoes various challenges in meeting the planet’s health challenges.
The lack of stable incomes to access health insurance is an issue. The organization is also involved in countries stricken by war and the collapse of its health system. The organizations work on the frontlines of conflict and disease, and with constrained resources, it is limited in providing adequate responses.
Impact of funding sources, policy, and legislation on WHO
The organization is reliant on the contribution of member states and donor funding. In 2018 it had a budget of over $ 4 Billion, with the US contributing close to 15% while Bill and Melinda Gates foundation covering 10%. The organization’s largest funders are western countries and foundations created by their wealthier citizens (Kuruvilla., 2018). This reliance on the west means that they are subject to meet their schedule in carrying out the World Health Organization mandate.
In the early part of 2020, the United States President removed the country from the WHO when it failed to meet some of his demands, thereby losing a crucial funding partner. Western donors’ domination means that the WHO seeks their geopolitical and social interest in carrying out its mandate. It means that the poorer countries are locked out of critical decisions concerning healthcare as they do not foot the bills.
The organization is the first defense line in global health emergencies. It affects it as the organization operates under budget constraints focusing only on high-risk diseases. The effect is the neglect of other conditions equally as dangerous such as cancer but not receiving the same attention. The fluctuation in contribution caused by the withdrawal of crucial member states affects priorities as the organization is now subject to cost-containment measures. It is a tough balancing act to meet the world’s health challenges with no distinct and reliable funding sources.
WHO Local Impact and the Role of Nurses
The WHO is vital in promoting its various countries’ health and safety. In this regard, the organization has made significant progress. It works with its different member states to coordinate responses to health emergencies and share knowledge and expertise to deal with outbreaks (Sohrabi, 2020). The WHO’s achievements range from eradicating smallpox and the continued fight to eliminate polio. The organization has also worked on a vaccine for Ebola. Their work has a crucial impact on the local level.
Nurses as primary healthcare workers can involve themselves in the WHO’s different initiatives spearheaded. They can seek employment and deployment in remote areas of the world to effectively stop and control health emergencies such as the Covid19 virus or other pandemics such as Ebola or Zika. Their knowledge is essential in implementing WHO strategies in these scenarios.
Conclusion
The WHO plays a vital role as the first line of defense in public health emergencies; with adequate funding and non-political interferences in its workings, it can improve overall healthcare outcomes for everyone in the world. It is a critical organization in ensuring the health and safety of everyone.
