The World Health Organization (WHO) is an entity that has played a crucial role in global health governance for over 70 years. However, WHO’s prominence was brought forward with the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, highlighting the organization’s power and significance in global health.
WHO is an arm of the United Nations that aims to promote healthy living, prevent disease, and provide access to healthcare services globally. WHO achieves this by setting health agendas, policies, and guiding countries on health systems and prioritizing the allocation of health resources. WHO also acts as a regulatory body overseeing the safety and efficacy of medicines and vaccines, with the World Health Assembly, a governing body of 194 member states, being its highest decision-making forum.
One of WHO’s main roles is to coordinate responses to global health emergencies and manage pandemics. The COVID-19 pandemic, which affected millions of individuals globally, witnessed WHO taking a lead role, providing guidance, information, and technical support to countries worldwide. WHO’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stressed the importance of collective action, coordination, and solidarity in controlling pandemics and working towards a healthier world.
WHO has also been instrumental in eradicating diseases such as smallpox and polio through extensive vaccination campaigns and improving disease surveillance mechanisms. It has also played a vital role in fighting existing diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, through advocacy, research, and the provision of essential medicines and health interventions.
However, WHO’s role in global health governance is not immune to criticism. One of the major concerns around WHO is the disproportionate power it holds in decision-making processes, considering its limited funding sources. Additionally, WHO’s approach to responding to health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, has been criticized for being reactive instead of proactive.
In conclusion, WHO has been a crucial player in global health governance, playing a pivotal role in promoting universal access to healthcare, eradicating diseases, and providing guidance and technical expertise during health emergencies. However, it is equally essential for WHO to address concerns around its decision-making processes and approach towards public health emergencies to continue strengthening its role in global health.
