World Health Organization (WHO)

Established on 7 April 1948, the World Health Organization is United Nations primary directing and coordinating authority for international health within the United Nations system. Its membership is comprised of 193 countries and two associate members. WHO’s objective, as outlined in its Constitution, is “the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.” Health, as defined in the same Constitution, is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Established on 7 April 1948, the World Health Organization is United Nations primary directing and coordinating authority for international health within the United Nations system. Its membership is comprised of 193 countries and two associate members. WHO’s objective, as outlined in its Constitution, is “the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.” Health, as defined in the same Constitution, is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Also, WHO sees health as a shared responsibility in the twenty-first century as it involves equitable access to essential care and collective defence against transnational threats.

The Organization is responsible for fulfilling its objectives through the following core functions: providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in partnerships where joint action is needed; shaping the research agenda and stimulating the generation, translation and dissemination of valuable knowledge; setting norms and standards and promoting and monitoring their implementation; articulating ethical and evidence-based policy options; providing technical support, catalysing change and building sustainable institutional capacity; and monitoring the health situation and assessing health trends. Through WHO, governments can jointly tackle global health problems and improve people’s well-being.

Energy at WHO

Energy, as a key element of both economic development and poverty alleviation, has great importance and relevance to the World Health Organization as a lead agency in health. Notably, the WHO is gathering and compiling data with regard to indoor air pollution as part of its programme that is investigating the contribution of a range of risk factors, such as malnutrition, smoking and lack of access to water and sanitation, to the burden of disease.

Services provided by WHO include:

• Gathering information globally on the use of household energy
• Assessing the burden of disease associated with household energy, in particular from household air pollution
• Providing guidance to reduce the health impacts due to household fuel combustion
• Facilitating the development and harmonization of methods for evaluating the impact of interventions on air pollution, health, development and climate change
• Disseminating information related to improving access to clean, efficient energy, including on the impacts of interventions and on effective approaches to implementation.