Everyday disasters are occurring all over the world. These disasters are both natural and synthetic. Volcanic eruptions, diseases, tornadoes, hurricanes, and wars are some of the problems facing the world today. While some of these problems have a lower frequency of occurrence, disease outbreaks are experienced almost regularly, especially in the developing world. The World Health Organization (WHO) is one of the organizations that have been responding to medical crises all over the world. Formed in 1948, the organization is the leading authority in the coordination of health programs across the international territories, subscribed to the United Nations.
The WHO has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and is an agency of the development arm of the UN and operates in the 194 member states. It has been a fundamental player in making the world a better place, by tackling diseases like HIV/AIDS, SARS, tuberculosis, and malaria in most countries of the developing world. WHO partners with member states, collaborating organizations, and the private sector to offer health-related services?
The WHO also initiates preventative healthcare, offering free immunizations before disasters strike. It also supports programs that are involved in the development of medicines and vaccinations. In 1958, Resolution WHA11.54 was called into action by the World Health Assembly to eliminate smallpox. This disease was responsible for the loss of 2 million lives annually. The WHO contributed funds towards the eradication of smallpox. The exercise was successfully coordinated by surveillance teams stationed in places where the disease showed activity. After 20 years of human effort across the world, the disease was eliminated. Since 1980, there has not been any case of smallpox reported. Similar efforts have been directed towards the elimination of diseases like malaria and Polio (Mashina, 2012, p.23)
To combat HIV/AIDs, the WHO has supported various preventative programs and public health policies. Zimbabwe was the first to receive support to fight the pandemic. The WHO has also been involved in health campaign rallies like World AIDS Day. The organization also researches in various other fields like nutrition, advising communities on proper consumptions regimens that would propel healthy living. This is an important contribution towards making the world better.
Most third-world countries have a problem educating their citizens about reproductive health and family planning. This has fueled the existing problem of population in some countries, increasing poverty and disease. The WHO is working with governments and private sectors to offer education to people about the importance of family planning, how to protect families from diseases and how to create sustainable living. (p.34)
The task of coordinating and maintaining surveillance is both time-consuming and expensive, the WHO has been able to create platforms for the collection of data. These platforms include the World Health Survey and the Study on Global Ageing (SGA). They are charged with the responsibility of collecting data from over 100 countries on different issues. This data enables the WHO to formulate programs that are aimed at providing customized solutions to particular problems. Collaborators of the WHO, such as the CDC, provide platforms for research on various disease outbreaks. All in the effort of making the world a better place to live in.
It is time we all played a role in saving our future, by following examples set for by organizations such as the WHO, which have proven that with the coordinated effort we can eradicate problems that face us.
Reference
Mashina, J. M. (2012). Disease and poverty: A never ending plague. What’s Going On? 5, 12-56. Web.