WHO Logo – The World Health Organization (WHO), is the agency of the United Nations Organization (UN) specialized in managing policies for prevention, promotion and intervention in health worldwide. Initially organized by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations that prompted the writing of the first statutes of the WHO. The first WHO meeting held in Geneva in 1948.
The 193 member states of the WHO is governed by the World Health Assembly. The Assembly is composed of representatives of all WHO Member States. In 2009, the institution was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation.
The Member States of the World Health Organization designate their delegations to the World Health Assembly, which usually meets in May each year, and has the ability to define the financial policies of the organization, and reviews and approves the program budget. The Assembly elects 34 members, how in the field of health, for a term of three years, and which form the Executive Council. The main functions of the Council are to make effective decisions and policies of the Assembly, advise and facilitate their work.
WHO has 193 Member States, including all member states of the UN, except Liechtenstein, and 2 territories not members of the UN : Niue and the Cook Islands, which operate under the status of partners (with access to complete information but with participation and limited voting rights), currently, if approved by a majority of the Assembly Puerto Rico and Tokelau will become associate members. Some entities may also have observer status, as is the Vatican. Taiwan is proposed as an observer, with the opposition from China which considers it as part of its territory. The daily work of WHO is carried out by the Secretariat, which consists of 5,000 personnel from health and other experts and support staff working at headquarters, in the six regional offices and countries.