WHAT IS WHO?
World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nations’ specialized agency for Health. It is an inter-governmental organization, that works in collaboration with its member states usually through the Ministries of Health.
WHO works worldwide to promote health, their goal is to ensure more people have universal health coverage and to protect more people from health emergencies.
LOGO OF WHO:
The First World Health Assembly selected the WHO logo in 1948. The blue circle in the logo represents the unity of all nations and their commitment to improving global health, there is also a coiling snake (originated from the story of Asclepius,’ GOD OF HEALING ‘(The rod of Asclepius, a snake-entwined staff, remains a symbol of medicine today.
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ORIGIN AND MANDATE;
In April 1945, at a meeting in San Francisco to set up the United Nations (UN), representatives from Brazil and China suggested forming an international health organization. They planned a meeting to write its rules. In February 1946, the UN’s Economic and Social Council asked the Secretary-General to organize this meeting.
A group met in Paris from March to April 1946 and made suggestions for the organization’s rules. These ideas were discussed at an International Health Conference in New York City between June and July 1946. Based on these discussions, the conference created the Constitution of the World Health Organization. On July 22, 1946, representatives from 51 UN member nations and 10 others signed this Constitution.
WHO’s Constitution came into force on 7 April 1948 – a date we now celebrate every year as World Health Day.
The WHO’s official mandate is to promote health and safety worldwide. It provides technical assistance to countries, set international health standards, and collect data on global health issues, its official publication world Health Report, provides assessments of worldwide health topics.
A number of significant achievements in public health (including the development of an Ebola vaccine, the eradication of smallpox., and the near eradication of polio, have been achievable thanks to the efforts of the WHO. Currently, its priorities are to eliminate cancer, HIV/AIDS, Ebola etc. 
MEMBERS AND GOVERNANCE;
The WHO has 194 member states, and two associate members, Puerto Rico, and Tokelau. The WHO yearly budget is paid by its 194 members and 2 associate members.
The World Health Assembly (WHA) supreme body of the WHO.
It has authority to appoint director-general and members of the executive board. It also reviews reports of the executive board and decides whether there are areas of work or not.
Challenges and Opportunities:
Despite its significant contributions to global health, the WHO faces challenges such as limited funding, and political pressures, and the need for structural reforms to enhance its effectiveness and accountability.
But, within these challenges there are chances to build stronger partnerships, use technology effectively, and gather support from politicians to deal health needs of people worldwide.
CONCLUSION:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is like a global health captain. It helps countries work together to keep people healthy by setting guidelines, providing advice during emergencies like pandemics, and supporting health programs worldwide.
