THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA,

LEGON CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND DIPLOMACY (LECIAD)

NAME: SARAH REBECCA NGOZI ABBA ODICO

ID: 10874506

DATE OF SUBMISSION:

COURSE INSTRUCTOR: DR. AMANDA COFFIE

TERM PAPER: THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.

To appreciate what the world health organization is all about, we must first understand what

international institutions or organizations are, their relevance and significance in today's world.

We will look at some scholarly definitions of international organizations, their relevances, and

formation, and then narrow it down to the international organization of interest in this paper: the

world health organization.

What is an International Organisation?

I would define an international organization as an independent entity that has identified a global

problem and is formed to address those problems.

WHO (The World Health Organization) a sector of the United Nations (UN) but not a

subordinate to the United Nations, took over from the health wing of the league of nations. The

WHO is not subordinate to the UN because other sovereign countries can be part of the World

Health Organization but would not be required to be a United Nations member. This is

exemplified by Liechtenstein, which is part of the WHO but not the UN(Abdalla et al., 2020;

Nations, 2019).

This paper would analyze how the WHO was spun-out from the International League of Nations,

its conception, inception, and establishment, and how other countries adopted the WHO

constitution. It would also analyze its objectives and activities from its conception to date. The

WHO structure is integral in this paper, looking at it from a constructive perspective, with a

focus on its three main organs: the World’s Health Assembly, the executive board, and

secretariate.
Over the years, the WHO has played a vital role in the promotion of international public health.

The WHO has worked greatly in eradicating various diseases and infections across the globe.

Despite this, issues erupt as to how effective the organization has been in achieving its main

objectives. The paper will look into the role of the WHO in maintaining Global Health.

WHAT IS GLOBAL HEALTH

Koplan et al. define global health as: ‘'An area of research, science, and practice dedicated to

promoting health and achieving health justice for all people everywhere.' This is a useful concept

that focuses on health improvement and justice in a broad sense(De Maeseneer et al., 2007;

Green, 2010).

Kickbush defines global health as: ‘those health challenges that cut across national borders and

governments, requiring action on the global forces that shape people's health.

THESIS STATEMENT

The World Health Organization, entrusted with achieving the highest level of health for all

citizens by the United Nations, through its role in the eradication of diseases and provision of

health care guidelines across the globe, has fulfilled its mandate to a large extent over the years,

as compared to other health organizations that preceded it.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

In analyzing the WHO regarding maintaining Global Health, this paper would look at

Constructivism as its theoretical framework. The international sphere is not static but relatively
malleable. Norms are also critical in Constructivism when it comes to structures evolving to

match society's current state.

Similarly, the WHO focuses on various health issues based on what is most prevalent. Thus, the

WHO sets norms and standards depending on the knowledge garnered from their research.

WHO (BRIEF HISTORY/ FORMATION)

Constructivism played a significant role in the formation of the world health organization. “The

norm entrepreneurs’ strategy” is displayed in the formation of the World Health Organization.

Delegates from Brazil, China, and Norway at the United Nations had a meeting in 1945 and

proposed the need for a world health organization. They subsequently, effectively lobbied for the

ultimate creation of the World Health Organization(Clift, 2013).

The WHO is one of the many UN bodies that China and Brazil proposed its establishment in

1945 with the primary goal of achieving the highest standard of health for all citizens(Clift,

2013).

A one hundred and ninety-three (193) member states came together to form the World Health

Organization (WHO) on April 7th, 1948, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland(Matanock,

2020; World Health Organization, 2014). Now from its inception and effective every year, the

World Health Organization would focus its attention on a specific health aspect. For example,

this year, the predicted focus is on the coronavirus, also known as the covid 19. The World

Health Organization also had the mandate to serve as the authority on health within the United

Nations Systems, to provide thoughtful leadership on global health matters, set standards and
norms, assert reliable, evidence-based policy options, provide on need basis technical support for

countries, and provide an assessment of world health trends(Matanock, 2020; World Health

Organization, 2014). Consequentially, the organization established an Executive Committee and

a Secretariat, governed by the World Health Assembly (WHA), to achieve the mission and vision

of the organization. The WHA was ordained the WHO's supreme decision-making body to

maintain structure and focus of the organization’s goals consistent with the body's overall

objective, which is to work strenuously so that “all peoples achieve the highest possible

standards of health”(Matanock, 2020).

It is significant for this paper to distinguish and identify specific important terminologies, as they

can be mistaken for each other. Firstly we will look at International health, a widely used term

towards the end of the 19th century and the early 20th century. Now international health was

referred to as the attention on the curb of epidemics beyond boundaries within sovereign states.

Here International Inter-governmental Organizations refer to the relationships between

governments of sovereign states, coordinating to formulate best public health policies and

practices (i.e. global health in general). This means considering the health needs of people of the

whole world above the issues of individual nations. The phenomenon “Global” is concerned with

actors' growing significance beyond governmental or intergovernmental organizations and

agencies. For example, social media foundations influence internationally, non-governmental

organizations, and transnational corporations.

“The terms "international," "intergovernmental," and "world" do not have to be mutually

exclusive and can be viewed as complementary. As a result, ‘WHO’ can be defined as an

intergovernmental organization that performs international functions to improve global health.”

(Brown et al., 2006).

independent. This is justified because the world health organization is part of the United Nations

but not subordinate to the United Nations. For example, a country can be part of the world health

organization yet alien to the United Nations. Puerto Rico is a member of the world health

organization yet not a member of the United Nations. Leichtenstein is an example of a state that

is part of the WHO and not part of the UN.

The world health organization has its constitution, its own governing body, and has the budgets

that it works with.

OBJECTIVE OF THE WHO

The world health organization has various objectives. However, the world health organization's

main objective is to “attain the highest health level for all people”(Hope, 2010). Thus all the

“minor”, objectives of the organization work in sync to achieve the ultimate goal of universal

good health for all people, as asserted above. Other objectives of the world health organization

are as follows;

 To improve the equity in health

 To reduce health risks

 To promote healthy lifestyles and settings

 To respond to the underlying determinants of health

 To generate action for; “health promotion”, “self-care”, and “self-protection.”

The work of the World Health Organization encompasses a wide range of health-related topics.

The WHO is in charge of disease prevention and control. The covid 19 pandemic is a prominent

example in our lives today. Previously, the WHO was tasked with preventing the spread of

diseases such as smallpox and polio. One of the WHO's mechanisms used to curb the diseases

was to vaccinate toddlers and infants(WHO, 2021). The WHO also works on developing health

care services, family and environmental health improvement, maintenance of health statistics,

e.g. the international classification of diseases (ICD). The WHO’s activities also extend towards

promoting biomedical research, maintaining health literature and information, and enhancing

cooperation with other global organizations, e.g., doctors without borders. As opposed to other

health organizations, for example, “ health care ready”, the WHO's prevalence in addressing

health care concerns is primarily felt, recognized and participated in almost all

countries(Thompson et al., 2005).

STRUCTURE OF THE WHO

The structure of the world health organization is anchored on three main Organs. Namely, “the

world health Assembly”, “the executive board”, and “ the secretariat(Dünya Sağlık Örgütü,

2014).”

THE WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY- consists of the supreme governing body and the health

parliament. They converge every year in its headquarters in Geneva, often in May and

rotationally in other countries. The assembly is composed of delegates from its members state;

each allowed a vote. The world health organization also covers the following;
The determination of international health policy and program, reviewing past works, the

acceptance and approval of the budget of the preceding year, and member states' election to

designate an individual to serve three years on the executive board and replace the retiring

members. The world health assembly, through the nomination carried out by the executive board,

appoints a director-general. On world health matters, it is now an organization's activity to delve

into “technical discussions” during every assembly(Dünya Sağlık Örgütü, 2014).

THE EXECUTIVE BOARD- Currently consisting of 34 members who are technically qualified

in the health career, are designated but are not a representative of their various governments.

Each year, one-third of the membership is changed. The board of executive's critical function is

to grant effect to the assembly's decisions and policies. Usually, they meet twice a year; they can

also take action in emergency cases by themselves, such as pandemics, floods, earthquakes, to

name but a few(Dünya Sağlık Örgütü, 2014).

THE SECRETARIAT- The World Health Organization's third organ is headed by a director-

general who serves as the organization's chief technical and administrative officer. This body's

primary goal is to provide member states with technical and managerial assistance for their

national health development programs. Over 8000 health and other professionals from various

fields work for the secretariat(Dünya Sağlık Örgütü, 2014).

ROLE OF ACTORS

Unlike the head body (United Nations), the world health organization has not only states as its

members; instead, it has member states, Associate members and Non – State actors like NGO’s,
Philanthropic foundations, Academic Institutions etc.

 MEMBER STATES: The role of the member states is to formulate the rules and the

regulations or policies of the WHO; they have 194 members in total as of now. The

countries that are members of the WHO institution are obliged with the implementation

of policies set at their various state levels. And as these policies are implemented in the

various member states, the norms and values are diffused and gradually accepted. (this is

to emphasize how Constructivism has played out).

 Associate Members: this comprises those territories which are not considered or

recognized as states. They also do not take responsibility for the conduct of their

international relations. Now such communities can be admitted to be associate members

of the world health organization—for example, Puerto Rico.

 NON-STATE ACTORS ( NGOs, Philanthropic foundations, Academic Institutions):

the world health has non-state actors as part of its members. Such as “doctors without

borders “, “ Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation”, “ African medical & research

foundation (AMREF)”, etc. However, from the constructivist perspective, these

organizations are complementing the role of the world health organization.

1. A prevalent challenge facing the world health organization is the “loss of trust by the

public.” It is assumed that much false information has spread like wildfire globally,

tainting the world health organization's image as unreliable and should not be trusted with

vaccines' distributions, especially in this coronavirus period. This is, to a large extent

slowing down the functions of the world health organization in its quest to curb the virus

and ensure safety(WHO, 2020b).

2. Competition with other Health Care Providers- many health care providers have filled the

public health arena. Recent innovations in administering health care services through

technology have also played a role. Through this pandemic, the world health organization

would face the challenges of penetrating the public amidst the competition of other health

care providers seeking international recognition and relevance(WHO, 2020b).

3. Shortage of Health Care Workers and Volunteers noticed that many healthcare workers

resigned for their safety at the pandemic's peak. Some hospitals were closed because of

the shortage of health care providers. The world health organization registers that the

world will add eighteen million health workers in the coming year twenty-thirty. This

suggests that world health organizations have the task of adequately training and

investing in health care providers.

4. The politicization of the world health organizations. The work of the WHO being

influenced by some countries like China(WHO, 2020a).

ACHIEVEMENTS AND CRITICISMS

quest to provide global health. Firstly, the world health organization was able to eradicate deadly

infectious diseases that would have caused thousands of lives, eradicating Smallpox and Polio in

1979 and 1988, respectively(Yves, 2018).

The world health organization’s first global public health treaty was unanimously adopted by the

world health assembly after years of rigorous negotiations. The treaty was formed to reduce

tobacco-related deaths and diseases around the world. This occurred in the year 2003, and in that

same year, the “severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)” was first recognized and controlled.

Today's world health organization has increasing access to medical care in developing countries,

promoting inter-state communications among medical communities.

Amidst all the above-stated achievements and more, the world health organization has currently

and over the years been criticized in its operations and response to specific diseases and

outbreaks of the virus in African countries.

The “Joy News” reported that the world health organization delayed in responding and

ultimately declare the coronavirus a pandemic. With its massive outbreak in China and other

parts of the world. The USA described the response of the world health organization to the

pandemic as “Problematic.” Considering that the virus was fast spreading and the world needed

proper directions on curbing it, the world health organization was still very slow to respond. The

virus was all over Europe and crept into some parts of Africa.

TREATS TO THE EXISTENCE OF WHO (WHAT WHO WILL BE IN YEARS TO

COME)
Many seem to reason that the world health organization will soon fade away. Many other

healthcare organizations are creating a way into the international system and almost doing the

same functions as the world health organization.

However, the world health organization is still essential today as it still stands to be highly

recognized and appreciated as a global health organization. The “WHO” would have to buckle

up and redeem itself so the public can once again have confidence in its mandate and functions.

Adopt newer policies that would ensure its smooth operations.

FUNDING- primarily, the member states fund the operations and projects of the world health

organization. Over time we have heard of the United States of America’s withdrawal in the

funding of the “WHO’s” projects. This is a significant drawback for the institution as the USA is

a significant donor of funds for the running of its projects.

During the pandemic, many businesses were crippled, and many countries faced a financial

crisis, which will result in a low contribution to the world health organizations projects.

CONCLUSION

For Constructivism, the roles of the actors of the world health organization are complementary to

the WHO. In conclusion, one might suggest that the world Health Organisation will transform in

its norms and values but might not cease to exist anytime soon.

Even though the WHO has not been very fulfilling in recent times it has also chalked some giant

achievements. The argument remains that the world health organization's essence and
significance cannot be over-emphasized, regardless of how many other international health care

organizations erupt. Every organization experiences failure, one way or the other, and in the

world health organization, one can argue that its failure to respond to the covid 19 pandemics

was slow compared to its response to other pandemics that existed in our world. The world

health organization urgently needs to braise up as it is speculated that the worse is yet to come.
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