The institutional readiness of the World Health Organization on health risks

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) directs and coordinates activities relating to health within the United Nations. In response to the existing and anticipated health risks, WHO has undertaken a number of actions to improve the health status of the population on a global scale. The institutional readiness to emergencies significantly increases the opportunities of coordinated and unified actions, which could improve effectiveness of actions. In order to efficiently respond to threats the document called Emergency Response Framework (ERF) was created.

The ERF sets out: WHO’s core commitments in emergency response which are those actions that WHO is committed to delivering in emergencies with public health consequences to minimize mortality and life-threatening morbidity by leading a coordinated and effective health sector response; the steps WHO will take between the initial alert of an event and its eventual emergency classification; WHO’s internal grading process for emergencies including the steps to remove a grade.

The ERF specify the role of WHO’s Global Emergency Management Team (GEMT) during emergency response, particularly refer to the optimal use of Organization-wide resources, the monitoring of the implementation of adequate procedures and policies, and the management of WHO’s internal and external communications.

The ERF present WHO’s Emergency Response Procedures (ERPs) that specify tasks and responsibilities across the Organization.

The institutional readiness to emergencies such as epidemics is essential to improve the health status of the population on a global scale. Methods for such a readines should be continuously developed and modernized, and adapted to the needs and abilities of the population to which they relate. This can make a significant contribution to enhancing their efficiency, and thus to help achieve the goals of WHO.