Health is fundamental to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and WHO’s role in providing global public goods that contribute to the health of all people, both within and beyond national boundaries, has never been more relevant. WHO’s unique status as a scientific and evidence-based organization that sets norms and standards applicable worldwide makes it vital in a rapidly changing world. Being a strong advocate for health and human rights, the organization plays a key role in ensuring that no one is left behind. A global and sustained effort is needed to build a society that works for the common future of humankind, empowering all people to improve their health, address the determinants of health, and respond to its threats.
According to the Constitution of the WHO, the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of everyone, regardless of race, religion, political opinion, or economic or social status. This vision forms one of the components of the organization’s mission, which is to develop and implement strategies for health promotion across the world. In particular, WHO focuses on transforming policies and legislation to facilitate access to healthcare, improving health literacy across the countries, as well as developing equal and inclusive health communities emphasizing social mobilization (“Health promotion,” n. d.). The organization’s values include a commitment to human rights, inclusiveness, and equity, based on the principles of the WHO Constitution.
The organization is sponsored through assessed and voluntary contributions produced by the Memmer States and other countries. The largest contributors are the USA, China, Japan, Germany, and other European countries, as well as Canada and Russia. WHO advocates for the superiority of the human right to health and well-being, which underlines the need for governments to maximize efforts to support the organization’s programs. WHO has no influence on national policies or legislation, it only recommends and coordinates the implementation of projects. Thus, the activities of the organization do not depend on the policies or legislation of specific states but actual health delivery lies within the frameworks of national laws and policies. Health delivery can occur only with the consent of the government of the country in whose territory it is conducted.
The WHO made a significant contribution toward influenza vaccine development, promoting equal opportunity for everyone. There is a global shortage of influenza vaccines, which increases the number of potential cases and chances of influenza epidemics or even pandemics. The WHO has coordinated and managed the Technology Transfer Initiative, which aims to increase the production of vaccines at the regional level (Palkonyay & Fatima, 2016). Fourteen low- and middle-income countries were involved in production under the regulation of the WHO. Vaccine production technology was transferred to local manufacturers.
Initially, in 2006, only four out of the fourteen countries were assessed by the WHO as functional for vaccine prequalification based on six basic requirements. The other countries’ national regulatory authorities were strengthened by the WHO via several steps. First, a gap analysis of the local regulatory agency was done, addressing the gap in establishing an institutional development plan (IDP). Next, technical support and training were provided, along with monitoring of the progress based on IDP. As a result, in 2016, ten out of fourteen countries met the vaccine prequalification requirement, indicating the significant contribution of the WHO to guaranteeing equitable access to vaccines worldwide.
Moreover, the WHO is assisting in the development and production processes of vaccines. The influenza virus has a tendency to mutate, changing its genetic code. In the 2016/17 influenza season in Europe, the virus underwent significant genetic diversification. It resulted in a crucial decrease in vaccine efficiency in the northern hemisphere. The WHO is collecting virological data about influenza outbreaks via genetics characterizing the virus on a weekly basis. Antigenic and generic information regarding the influenza virus is essential for future vaccine development. The WHO’s data was used for the consultation on the composition of 2017/18 influenza virus vaccine production in the northern hemisphere (Melidou et al., 2017). As a result of the consultation, it was possible to successfully design and produce the influenza vaccine that would be effective against the new virus. It shows the WHO’s significant contribution toward global health and safety via global assistantship in the production of vaccines.
The WHO’s operations in the African region significantly contribute to the public health and safety of the region. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) by the World Health Organization is aimed at exterminating the polioviruses in African countries. The experience gained in the implementation of GPEI was used for the prevention of other viruses as well (Okeibunor, 2016). For instance, in Chad, the hub system of GPEI was used for the coordination of other immunization operations. Furthermore, the Democratic Republic of Congo adopted GPEI instruments for local health programs like national nutrition programs, disease control, malaria, and tuberculosis control programs. Moreover, the WHO’s international board membership allows low- and middle-income countries to become involved in the global development of public health, which enhances the progress in health development in those countries. According to Van der Rijt and Pang (2015), among fifty of the most engaged member states of the WHO, fifteen are from low- and middle-income countries (p. 403). The experience can be used for the development of public health at the regional and national levels.
Another WHO initiative is to help sustain a healthy environment during the migration of the Americas Region population. Various reasons, including political, social, and environmental forces, push the population of the Americas region to migrate. It is challenging to maintain a healthy lifestyle and conditions during the constant migration of the population. The WHO developed a number of strategic lines of action to improve the level of public health, including the health of migrants. One of the WHO’s recommendations is to develop strong health surveillance, data management, and monitoring. It is important to collect adequate and comparable information regarding the health of migrating population for the decision-making process when developing health-related policies and interventions. In addition, it will help identify the health need of migrants, increasing the efficiency of local public health services. Another crucial aspect in providing public health services to migrating population is to make sure that the services are equally available for both local and migrating people.
In Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), the WHO, in collaboration with the National Center of Malaria, helped the country fight against malaria outbreaks. The country did not experience any deaths due to malaria last two years and obtained the lowest number of malaria cases in 2020. The reason is that the WHO assisted in the enhancement of a malaria data management system, which helps quickly identify and effectively respond to disease outbreaks. A new electronic system for malaria data management was integrated with the country’s national health information system. It allowed monitoring of all malaria cases from all existing health facilities. Moreover, the system identifies the factors that can cause a malaria outbreak, making it possible to assess the potential of the outbreak in a particular location.
To conclude, the World Health Organization is a non-profit organization that significantly contributes to the development of public health worldwide. The WHO’s operations regarding vaccine production resulted in its enhancement in several countries, increasing the equal opportunity for vaccination. Moreover, African countries implemented the experience of the WHO in the eradication of polioviruses. That way several countries successfully adopt and use the methodology of the WHO to combat other viruses and diseases. Thus, the World Health Organization’s contribution toward the development of both regional and global public health is enormous and helps create a healthy and safe world.
References
Health promotion.(n. d.). World Health Organization. Web.
How WHO is funded. (2021). World Health Organization. Web.
Melidou, A., Broberg, E., & European Region Influenza Surveill. (2017). Predominance of influenza A(H3N2) virus genetic subclade 3C.2a1 during an early 2016/17 influenza season in Europe – Contribution of surveillance data from World Health Organization (WHO) European Region to the WHO vaccine composition consultation for northern hemisphere 2017/18. Vaccine, 35(37), 4828–4835.
Okeibunor, J., Nsubuga, P., Salla, M., Mihigo, R., & Mkanda, P. (2016). Coordination as a best practice from the polio eradication initiative: Experiences from five member states in the African region of the World Health Organization. Vaccine, 34(43), 5203–5207.
Palkonyay, L., & Fatima, H. (2016). A decade of adaptation: Regulatory contributions of the World Health Organization to the Global Action Plan for Influenza Vaccines (2006–2016). Vaccine, 34(45), 5414–5419.
Van der Rijt, T., & Pang, P. T. (2015). Governance within the World Health Assembly: A 13-year analysis of WHO Member States’ contribution to global health governance. Health Policy, 119(3), 395–404.