WHO regions

WHO Regions

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, and its headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is divided into six regions, each of which is responsible for the coordination and implementation of health activities in its respective area. These regions are designed to address the specific health needs and challenges of different parts of the world.

WHO Regions

The six WHO regions are:

1. African Region (AFRO)

  - Headquarters: Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
  - The African Region comprises 47 countries. It focuses on addressing health challenges such as infectious diseases, maternal and child health, and strengthening health systems.

2. Region of the Americas (AMRO/PAHO)

  - Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
  - Also known as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), this region includes 35 countries in North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean. It works on issues like non-communicable diseases, health equity, and emergency preparedness.

3. South-East Asia Region (SEARO)

  - Headquarters: New Delhi, India
  - Comprising 11 countries, the South-East Asia Region focuses on communicable diseases, health system strengthening, and achieving universal health coverage.

4. European Region (EURO)

  - Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark
  - The European Region includes 53 countries. It addresses health challenges such as aging populations, non-communicable diseases, and health inequalities.

5. Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO)

  - Headquarters: Cairo, Egypt
  - This region consists of 21 countries and territories. It focuses on health emergencies, communicable diseases, and health system resilience.

6. Western Pacific Region (WPRO)

  - Headquarters: Manila, Philippines
  - The Western Pacific Region includes 27 countries and areas. It works on issues like communicable diseases, health security, and environmental health.

Functions and Responsibilities

Each WHO region is responsible for:

- Implementing WHO policies and programs: Regions adapt global health strategies to local contexts and priorities. - Providing technical support: Regions offer expertise and resources to help countries improve their health systems. - Coordinating health initiatives: Regions facilitate collaboration among countries to address cross-border health issues. - Monitoring health trends: Regions collect and analyze data to track health progress and identify emerging challenges.

Governance

Each WHO region is governed by a Regional Committee, which consists of representatives from the member states in that region. The Regional Committee meets annually to set policies, approve budgets, and review progress. The Regional Director, elected by the Regional Committee, leads the regional office and implements its decisions.

Also see

- World Health Organization - Global health - Public health - International health regulations