Notification of a recent Ebola virus outbreak in the Republic of Congo, promotion of an international campaign for AIDS education and prevention, and direction of vaccination requirements for those traveling to Brazil and other parts of the world are all responsibilities of the World Health Organization, or WHO.

The World Health Organization is an intergovernmental organization, which was established in April 1948, within the United Nations, which concentrates on world health. [1]. The ultimate goal of the World Health Organization is to achieve the highest level of health feasible for all the world's people. WHO defines health as, "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." [2]

The World Health Assembly governs the World Health Organization. The Assembly is made up of representatives from the 192 Member States, and is where WHO budgets, agendas, and programs are approved. Each year, in May, the World Health Assembly meets in Geneva to decide upon the coming year's issues and where focus will be placed. Over the years the WHO has made significant advances in fighting cholera, leprosy, polio, tuberculosis, and malaria, as well as funded a great deal of research on various diseases [3].

The World Health Organization is broken down into six regional offices around the globe that are staffed by approximately 3500 health professionals, experts, and additional staff [4]. These offices are located in Alexandria, Brazzaville, Copenhagen, Manila, New Delhi, and Washington [5]. The total resources available in the WHO budget for 2002-2003 are estimated to reach approximately 2.2 billion American dollars, and from there aid is provided in the form of grants [6].

Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, the current Director General of the World Health Assembly, who began her term in July, 1998, decided to currently focus the efforts of the World Health Organization in four main directions in hopes of progressing health at both the global and state levels: to reduce unnecessary mortality, morbidity, and disability; to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce factors that pose risks to human health; to create health systems that answer people's health demands; and to establish effective policies within the health sector. [7]

The World Health Organization is involved in a number of areas, from tracking the disease and virus outbreaks around the world, to being a source for general health information, to actively pursuing health reforms across the globe. In March, 2003, a Framework Convention on Tobacco Control was agreed upon where an international tobacco control treaty that addresses tobacco taxation, smoking prevention, illicit trade, advertising, promotion, and product regulation will be finalized and presented to the World Health Assembly in May of this year. [8]

The World Health Organization also promotes and sponsors health-related events. World Tuberculosis Day 2003 takes place on March 24, 2003, in promotion of TB testing and control around the globe [9], and April 7, 2003, is World Health Day 2003, whose theme is "Healthy Environments for Children," will involve events around the world that reduce environmental risks that affect children's health [10].

The World Health Organization is a fundamental player in the promotion and drive toward providing all people with the opportunity to live healthy lives. The people of 192 nations come together to work at keeping the public informed and improving the quality of life wherever improvement is possible. Health is a liberty that should be made available to all people. The World Health Organization is the means by which this liberty is slowly being made possible.

Peggy is a third-year student majoring in Biology. She aspires to enter the field of medicine.