The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded on the first “World Health Day”: April 7, 1948, as the international authority for public health. As one of The United Nations’ (UN) original agencies, its headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland. WHO was preceded by the Health Organization, which was an agency of the League of Nations.

The mandate of WHO is to help people around the globe receive the highest quality of healthcare possible. In pursuit of this goal, WHO provides leadership on global health agendas, policies, standardization, and also monitors and reports on global healthcare trends. The organization’s assembly typically meets each year in May. Every five years, a Director-General is appointed and WHO’s budget and financial policies are reviewed. Assembly members are also elected to the organization’s Executive Board for a three-year term.

Although WHO develops various campaigns aimed at promoting general health, it is particularly active in mobilizing countries toward the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, such as AIDS, SARS, and Malaria. As a supporter of safe vaccine development and distribution, WHO achieved major success in 1980 when it saw the eradication of smallpox. This marked the first time in history that human effort had accomplished the eradication of a disease, with Polio being the next target for WHO.

In addition to WHO’s efforts to classify and combat disease, it has also been tasked with monitoring the policies of the Commission on Narcotics to ensure proper regulation of psychoactive drugs. WHO also conducts research on the dangers of substances such as sugar and tobacco in the body, as well as electromagnetic fields around the body, such as through mobile phone use.

Each member state of the UN is eligible to also become a member of WHO. Non-UN Member states are eligible to join WHO as Associate Members upon approval by Assembly vote, which allows them to receive WHO information, but limits their overall participation and voting privileges. In addition to Members and Associate Members, WHO also has Observers, such as Vatican City and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

One of the WHO’s founding members, Taiwan (The Republic of China) left the organization in 1972 after The People’s Republic of China was admitted as a member. Since 1997, Taiwan has applied to participate in the WHO each year as a 'health entity'; however it has continuously been denied due to pressures from China, who contest that Taiwan is already represented through their WHO Membership.