Spike in Pneumonia cases in China ,WHO seek more information

Subject: IR

Section: International Organisation

Context: WHO seek more information on spike in Pneumonia cases in china

More about the news:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has formally requested detailed information from China regarding a surge in respiratory illnesses, particularly pneumonia clusters in children.
Chinese authorities attributed the increase to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens, including influenza and the virus causing COVID-19.
The WHO emphasized the need for enhanced disease surveillance and strengthening the healthcare system.
Concerns about transparency in reporting, dating back to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, have been raised.
Recently, groups reported undiagnosed pneumonia clusters in northern China, and the WHO is seeking more information to determine if they are linked to the previously reported respiratory infections.
The agency recommended measures to reduce the risk of respiratory illness, including vaccination, maintaining distance from sick individuals, staying home when unwell, testing, wearing masks, ensuring good ventilation, and regular handwashing.

Some facts about World Health Organization (WHO):

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
It was founded in 1948.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, it has six regional offices and 150 field offices worldwide.
It is an intergovernmental organization and works in collaboration with its member states usually through the Ministries of Health.
On 7 April 2023 ̶ World Health Day ̶ the World Health Organization will observe its 75th anniversary.
Some of the important objectives of WHO are:
- Lead global efforts to expand universal health coverage.
- Focus on the areas of disease prevention, control and elimination, and the promotion of health and well-being.
- Provide leadership on global health issues, set standards for public health, and provide technical assistance and support to countries.
- Collaborate with various partners, including other UN agencies, governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector.

What is the governance structure and functioning of WHO:

The structure of the WHO governance is specifically crafted to facilitate the execution of its mandate and the attainment of its objectives. This structure comprises:
Membership: The WHO currently boasts 194 member states.
World Health Assembly (WHA): Serving as the highest decision-making body, the WHA is constituted by representatives from all member states.
Secretariat: Tasked with implementing the policies and programs approved by the WHA.
Director-General: The Director-General leads the WHA and is assisted by a senior management team.
Regional Offices: The WHO operates six regional offices, namely Africa, the Americas, Southeast Asia, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, and Western Pacific. Each regional office is responsible for coordinating and supporting the WHO’s initiatives within its designated geographic area.

What is the funding mechanism of WHO:

WHO gets its funding from two main sources
- Assessed Contributions: Countries contribute dues to maintain their membership in the Organization.
- Voluntary Contributions: Member States, in addition to their assessed contributions, and various partners such as United Nations organizations, intergovernmental organizations, philanthropic foundations, and the private sector, contribute voluntarily to support the WHO’s initiatives.
In 1948, countries of the world came together and founded WHO to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health and well-being.