The World Health Organization (WHO) is an influential international agency that promotes global health by encouraging cooperation between member countries representing all parts of the world. The WHO was established in 1948 as a subsidiary organization of the United Nations (UN) to promote international cooperation for addressing pressing global health threats. The UN is a major international agency that was founded just a few years earlier, in 1945, to encourage multinational cooperation related to international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, political freedom, democracy, health, and the achievement of lasting world peace.

The world headquarters for the WHO is in Geneva, Switzerland, with regional offices located in many countries. All 194 countries that are members of the United Nations ...