The World Health Organization(WHO) is the United Nations’ specialized agency for public health, established in 1948. Its aim is to improve the future prospects and health of all the world’s people. According to its constitution, WHO aims to achieve the highest possible level of health for all the peoples of its 194 member and partner states, health being defined in the same document as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.

The World Health Organization has been headed since July¹, 2017 by former Ethiopian Health Minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who succeeded Chinese physician Margaret Chan. The WHO strives to combat diseases, whether infectious, such as influenza and HIV, or non-communicable, such as cancer and heart disease. Through offices in over 150 countries, WHO staff work alongside governments and other partners to ensure the safety of air, food, water, medicines and vaccines.