World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO began when its Constitution came into force on 7 April 1948 – a date celebrated every year as World Health Day. It has more than 7000 people working in 150 country offices, in 6 regional offices and at its headquarters in Geneva.

WHO’s primary role is to direct and coordinate international health within the United Nations’ system.

Main areas of work:

  • Health systems
  • Promoting health through the life-course
  • Noncommunicable diseases
  • Communicable diseases
  • Corporate services
  • Preparedness, surveillance and response.

WHO support countries as it coordinates the efforts of multiple sectors of the government and partners – including bi- and multilaterals, funds and foundations, civil society organizations and private sector – to attain its health objectives and support national health policies and strategies.

Global Smoking Rates on Decline Thanks to Demand-Reduction Measures

Scientific article
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New research published in The Lancet Public Health suggests that global smoking rates have decreased by 2.5% following the introduction of the global tobacco control treaty. The treaty obligates the 180 countries committed to it to...

Revealed: The Global Cost of Smoking

News
Smoking and its related harms cost the world more than $1 trillion and claim the lives of around 6 million people each year, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Cancer Institute. $1 trillion...

Neuroscience of Psychoactive Substance Use and Dependence

Book
This report describes our current understanding of the neuroscience of psychoactive substance use and dependence. It draws on the explosive growth in knowledge in this area in recent decades, which has transformed our understanding of the...
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