The Public Health System

The World Health Organization was established in 1948, shortly after the World War II (World Health Organization, n.d.). The multilateral health organization focuses on tackling disease and achieving a better health globally. The goal of World Health Organization is to ensure the safety of the food people eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. The organization has more than 7000 people working in approximately 150 countries (World Health Organization, n.d.). The headquarters of the organization is in Geneva, Switzerland. Regarding improving the population health, WHO recruits experts including researchers, economists, administrative staff and medical doctors to operate the programs and projects worldwide.

Additionally, the organization works in the following areas to improve the population health. First, the health care organization prioritizes the health systems by ensuring a universal health coverage. The organization works with global health partners, civil society and policy-makers in various countries to support in developing and implementing solid national health plans (Bloland, et al., 2012). Second, the organization works to improve the health through the life-course by addressing environment risks, social determinants of health, gender, equity and human rights (World Health Organization, n.d.). Besides, the focus of WHO is to reduce health disparities within countries. Third, regarding communicable diseases, the organization focuses on working with countries to improve and sustain prevention, treatment and care for tropical diseases, malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis. Fourth, the organization offers emergency risk management services that include preparedness, surveillance, and response. In a situation when there are emergencies, the organization’s operational task includes coordinating health responses, identifying priorities and setting strategies, providing supplies and financial resources and undertaking the risk assessment.

Public health system encompasses entities that contribute to the delivery of essential public health services. World Health Organization fits into the overall public health system by informing, educating and empowering people on health issues. The organization engages in health education and health promotion partnerships to support healthy living (Bloland, et al., 2012). The partnerships entail various organizational structure external to WHO. Moreover, the leadership structure of the organization ensures that they handle matters critical to the health and engage in collaboration where necessary. Citing Burke and Friedman (2011), the organization’s health education aims to build knowledge and shape attitudes and develop skills and behaviors for healthy living. Second, the organization fits in the public health system by monitoring health status to identify and solve health problems. As part of the role that entails directing and coordinating authority on international health, the organization monitors the health situation and assess health trends. The World Health Organization employs technology, methods, and experts to interpret and communicate data.

There are organizations inside and outside the discipline of public health that play a critical role in ensuring that World Health Organization meets its goal of improving population health. For instance, the organization engages with non-State actors to advance and promote public health. Similarly, the organization encourages non-State actors to employ their activities in protecting and improving public health. The non-State actors include private sector entities, NGOs and philanthropic foundations (Burke & Friedman, 2011). Within the organization, there are WHO collaborating centers that encompass research institutes, universities, and academies that carry out activities in support of the organization’s programs and projects.

 

References

Bloland, P., Simone, P., Burkholder, B., Slutsker, L., & De Cock, K. M. (2012). The role of public health institutions in global health system strengthening efforts: the US CDC’s perspective. PLoS Med, 9(4), e1001199.

Burke, R. E., & Friedman, L. H. (2011). Essentials of management and leadership in public health. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

World Health Organization. (n.d.). About WHO. Retrieved on May 9, 2017 from http://www.who.int/about/en/

 

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