10 Facts About WHO, the Organisation That You Might Not Have Known About Before COVID-19

By
Shawn Ambrose
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Last Updated on 2020-11-18 , 9:47 pm

Besides adding terms like asymptomatic, herd immunity, and immunosuppressed to your vocabulary, the Covid-19 pandemic has also familiarised you with the World Health Organisation, or WHO for short.

While this may be a good thing, it’s also led to frustrating conversations like this:

A: Oh no, the WHO declared Covid-19 a pandemic.

B: Who?

A: Yes.

B: No, who declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic?

A: Yes.

B: *starts twitching* I’M ASKING YOU WHO DECLARED COVID-19 A PANDEMIC GODDAMIT

A: WELL WHY ARE YOU ASKING IF YOU ALREADY KNOW!?

B: *faints*

The WHO, which really should have picked a less confusing acronym, has been the organisation governments have turned to for direction and advice during the coronavirus crisis, often implementing or easing restrictions based on the agency’s recommendations.

But – and this is a sentence I’d never thought I’d say – who exactly are the WHO?

Well, here are 10 facts about the WHO, the organisation you may not have known much about before Covid-19.

1. It Was Established in 1948

I’m not exaggerating when I say that this organisation is old. Like more than 70 years old. 

It was established on 7 April 1948, which is commemorated as World Health Day.

Like your history teacher told you as you were struggling to stay awake, after the first world war ended, an intergovernmental organisation called the League of Nations was set up to maintain world peace.

Then, three years after the second world war ended, the WHO incorporated the assets, personnel, and duties of the League of Nations’ Health Organisation.

2. Its Main Objective is to Facilitate International Cooperation to Improve Public Health Conditions

The WHO’s Constitution states that its main objective “is the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health”.

It acts as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work and provides leadership on matters critical to health.

It also:

  • assists Governments, upon request, in strengthening health services
  • promotes the improvement of nutrition, housing, sanitation, recreation, economic or working conditions and other aspects of environmental hygiene
  • facilitates cooperation among scientific and professional groups which contribute to the advancement of health

Think of the WHO as a parent who’s also a doctor constantly looking out for his child, which is, well, the entire world.

3. Its Director-general is the Former Health Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia

WHO’s current Director-General is Tedros Adhanom, former Health Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia and the man whose worried expression you’re probably familiar with by now.

The term of a Director-General lasts for 5 years, though they can be appointed for multiple subsequent terms.

Tedros was appointed Director-General of the WHO on 1 July 2017 by the World Health Assembly.

4. It Has 194 Member States

As of 2020, the WHO has 194 member states: all of the member states of the United Nations except for Liechtenstein, plus the Cook Islands and Niue.

Countries like Singapore, India, China, Malaysia and the UK are all members of the organisation.

WHO member states appoint delegations to the World Health Assembly, which occurs every year at WHO’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

5. They Have Barred Taiwan From Membership Due to Pressure from China

While Taiwan has been allowed to attend WHO meetings and events as an observer between 2009 and 2016, the country has been forced to stop and even barred from membership due to pressure from China.

According to BBC, the WHO seems to have bought into China’s outlook that Taiwan is a province of China and not an independent country.

And since WHO membership is only given to countries that are members of the United Nations – which does not recognise Taiwan – Taiwan cannot be a member of the WHO.

Critics have accused the WHO of being discriminatory and displaying political bias towards China, a major contributor to the organisation, according to BBC.

This had led to some awkward interactions between WHO officials and Taiwan journalists, like the one below:

Yes, when the journalist asked about Taiwan’s exclusion from the WHO, Bruce Aylward, senior advisor on organizational change to the Director-General, pretended not to hear the question.

And when she asked again, he hung up.

Determined, the journalist called Aylward back and asked if he could comment on Taiwan’s response to the coronavirus.

Aylward replied: “Well, we’ve already talked about China.

6. The US Have Withdrawn From the Organisation

Donald Trump, the man who never makes a mistake because he never admits to one, announced recently that the US would halt funding to the organisation and formally withdraw from the organisation.

Trump explained that this was because the organisation “failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms”.

The US president also accused the WHO of aiding China in allegedly covering up the origins of the virus and allowing its spread.

7. One of its Functions is to Eradicate Epidemics

WHO’s constitution says that one of its jobs is to “stimulate and advance work to eradicate epidemic, endemic and other diseases.”

That’s why everyone has turned to the organisation for guidance and counsel during the Covid-19 outbreak.

In fact, it’s the WHO that decides when an outbreak of a disease is severe enough to be labelled an epidemic or pandemic.

The agency also sponsors measures for the control of epidemic and endemic disease, which include:

  • mass campaigns involving nationwide vaccination programs
  • instruction in the use of antibiotics and insecticides
  • the improvement of laboratory and clinical facilities for early diagnosis and prevention
  • health education for people living in rural communities

WHO also disseminates information on necessary safety precautions during such a crisis, like the frequent washing of hands and wearing of masks.

The WHO, like many countries, initially advised people to wear masks only if they were ill, but then updated its recommendations and urged everyone to do so.

8. It Played a Leading Role in Eliminating Smallpox 

According to Britannica, smallpox, an infectious disease that claimed many lives over centuries, was globally eradicated in May 1980 largely thanks to the efforts of WHO.

In 1967, the organisation ramped up global smallpox eradication efforts by contributing $2.4 million annually and adopting a new disease surveillance method.

Moreover, they established a network of consultants who assisted countries in setting up surveillance and containment activities and helped contain the last European outbreak in Yugoslavia in 1972.

In 1979, the WHO announced that smallpox had been eradicated – the first disease in history to be eliminated by human effort.

9. It Was Heavily Criticised For its Response to the Ebola Outbreak

You win some, you lose some, right?

Remember back in January when the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency?

It was an indication of the severity of the outbreak and a signal to implement stricter restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.

But back in 2014, when Ebola was ravaging West Africa, WHO was widely criticized for not making the declaration sooner, especially after early warnings from international aid groups.

The organisation was also slammed for its bureaucracy and insufficient financing.

10. They Reportedly Spend More on Travel Expenses Than On AIDS

Your eyes on not deceiving you.

According to The New York Post,  WHO spent nearly $192 million on travel expenses in 2018, with employees sometimes breaking rules by travelling in business class, booking expensive last-minute tickets, and travelling without the required approvals.

You might think that it’s just a few bad apples, except that its former Director-General Margaret Chan reportedly stayed in a $1000-per-night hotel room while visiting West Africa.

In December 2019, Tedros ordered an internal probe into these and other misconduct allegations.

It’s safe to say that this organisation isn’t perfect, but it’s all we have at the moment.

Featured Image: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com

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Shawn Ambrose
Email: [email protected]