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LONDON— The World Health Organization (WHO) is in the spotlight as it defends the global fight against the new coronavirus, but faces a freeze on funds from the government of United States President Donald Trump.
These are the main characteristics of WHO and its work:
What is it?
WHO is an agency of United Nations created in 1948 to improve health worldwide. It has more than 7,000 people working in 150 country offices, six regional offices and its headquarters in Geneva.
Its CEO, currently the Ethiopian Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus – is elected for a period of five years. Tedros’ five-year term began on July 1, 2017.
What does?
WHO’s stated goal is “to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.”
It does not have the power to impose health policies on national governments, but it acts as an adviser and offers guidance on best practices in disease prevention and health improvement.
It has three main lines of work:
– aiming for universal health coverage in all countries
– prevention and response to acute emergencies
– promote health and well-being for all
* Does not?
Like many international institutions, WHO suffers from false perceptions about its scope and resources.
The WHO is not “the doctor of the world”: it does not provide treatment or carry out disease surveillance, although it does advise national and international authorities on these matters.
It has no powers of sanction, and the information it collects and publishes is as good as the data and experience it draws from Member States and their technical specialists.
Are all countries part of it?
The WHO has 194 member states: all countries except Liechtenstein, which is a member of the United Nations but not of its global health agency. They appoint representatives to the World Health Assembly, which meets annually and establishes WHO policies. These policies are implemented by the WHO Executive Board, made up of technically qualified members in health.
Who pays for it?
WHO member states provide funds through two routes: assessed contributions and voluntary contributions. WHO budgets are biennial and span two years. Its 2020-2021 budget is almost $ 4.85 billion, 9% more than in the previous two-year period.
Contributions assessed are calculated based on a country’s wealth and population, while voluntary contributions are often donor-directed to specific regions or diseases, such as polio, malaria, or infant mortality in poor areas.
Philanthropic foundations and multinational groups like the European Commission are also major donors to WHO.
The United States is the largest general donor and had contributed more than $ 800 million at the end of 2019 for the 2018-2019 biennial financing period. The Gates Foundation is the second largest donor, followed by Great Britain.
What are seen as your main successes and failures?
The WHO is widely recognized for leading a 10-year campaign to eradicate smallpox in the 1970s and has also led global efforts to end polio, a battle that is in its final stages.
In recent years, WHO has also coordinated battles against Ebola viral epidemics in the Congo and Zika in Brazil.
In the current outbreak of the COVID-19 disease, although many praised the WHO’s leadership, Trump accused him of focusing on China and giving bad advice on the emerging pandemic.
This week, Trump said the WHO had “failed in its basic duty” and announced a temporary suspension of US funds, a move that led to the condemnation of many world leaders.
In the past, the WHO was accused of overreacting to the 2009-10 H1N1 flu pandemic and also faced widespread criticism for not reacting quickly enough to the large Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014 that killed more than 11,000 people. —Information from Kate Kelland; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne
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