World Health Organization
Article
August 11, 2022
The World Health Organization (WHO, World Health Organization, WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (independent international organizations associated with the United Nations by a special cooperation agreement), consisting of 194 member states, whose main function lies in resolving international health problems of the world's population. The World Health Organization was founded in 1948 with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The UN Specialized Group, in addition to WHO, includes UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), International Labor Organization (ILO), UNICEF (Children's Fund) and others (see UN Specialized Agencies). A Member State of the UN becomes a member of the WHO by adopting the Charter. A state that is not a member of the UN is accepted as a member of the WHO by a simple majority vote of the General Assembly. Territories not eligible to act as subjects of international relations may be admitted to WHO as associate members on the basis of applications made on their behalf by a WHO member or other competent authority responsible for the international relations of these territories.