About WHO

WHO's goal is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health

The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialized agency for health. It was established on 7 April 1948. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO's Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

WHO is governed by 193 Member States through the World Health Assembly. The Health Assembly is composed of representatives from WHO's Member States. The main tasks of the World Health Assembly are to approve the WHO programme and the budget for the following biennium and to decide major policy questions.

HEADQUARTERS - Director-General's office - Contact WHO headquarters - Structure at headquarters [pdf 41kb] REGIONAL OFFICES - Regional Office for Africa - Regional Office for the Americas - Regional Office for South-East Asia - Regional Office for Europe - Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean - Regional Office for the Western Pacific - About WHO regional offices MEMBER STATES AND LIAISON OFFICES Member States Liaison and other offices

PEOPLE - Goodwill ambassadors HISTORY - WHO Constitution - Library historical collection - Archives of WHO - Global Health Histories GOVERNANCE - Governance and governing bodies COLLABORATION - Collaborating centres - WHO relations with NGOs and civil society EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES - WHO employment COPYRIGHT, PERMISSIONS AND LICENSING - Copyright notice - Permissions and licensing of WHO information

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