World Health Organization

The World Health Organization, also known as WHO, is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that has the authority to direct and coordinate matters of global health. Established by constitution on April 7, 1948 (now known as World Health Day), and following principles of the UN, its stated goal is to achieve the highest possible level of health for the world's population. This is an especially difficult task since, by its constitution, WHO understands that “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Currently, WHO has two key measures of its performance: women's health and health in Africa.

Governed by the World Health Assembly, comprising 34 executive members with expertise in the ...