WHO E-Book

Catherine Dumont

• Herausgeber: BookThug
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 31

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

The funding of the World Health Organization, as it works nowadays, is made up of more than 80% of voluntary contributions destined for specific programs. These contributions not only come from United Nations member countries, as was the case originally, but also from foundations, agencies, individuals or companies —including pharmaceuticals—, which then have the power to decide on the proposed initiatives. In other words, these are contributions whose destination is directed by the donor, and the WHO cannot use these funds according to its needs or criteria. It seems practically impossible for a multilateral organization to manage to maintain the independence needed by a reality like the current one regarding the latest pandemic.

Leseprobe

Health vs Sovereignty?

The role of the World Health Organization (WHO), since its creation after the Second World War, has undoubtedly been extremely important. However, especially in recent years and under the direction of Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, it has received much criticism and challenges. WHO’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic also was questioned and criticized.

In May 2022, the 75th WHO World Health Assembly has held in Geneva. With representatives from 194 countries, an attempt was made to modify the International Health Regulation: there were a series of amendments proposed by the president of the United States, Joe Biden, that supposedly subjugated national sovereignties and left in the hands of the WHO the health management of each country in critical situations (such as a pandemic, or a “health emergency” that the WHO itself could decree without the consent of that country). These proposals were not made public, but they circulated before the Assembly and many groups warned that what was about to be approved was worrying and dangerous. For the general public, these amendments went unnoticed: neither the big media nor the governments reported on the subject.

These amendments were not approved, mainly due to the opposition of the African countries. It is warned that in the 2024 Assembly, these changes will be tried again, slightly modified. And it is also alerted that in parallel the WHO is drafting an International Treaty on Pandemics, which would go in the same direction: strengthen the power of the WHO and its ability to control the health system of the countries, and maybe much more than that.

But perhaps we should go a little back in time to understand what has been happening in recent years. It is necessary to review the recent history of the WHO, analyze its financing, analyze the changes that were introduced in terms of pandemic management, review the history of its General Director and his links to Bill Gates, for example.

The WHO, an organization that used to enjoy almost undisputed prestige, an organization that has contributed to eradicating diseases, implementing health strategies in the poorest countries, keeping global disease statistics and unifying classification criteria, could currently be something else. Its reputation, already questioned by many, could crumble before a detailed analysis of its accounts, actions and management. Are they brewing the conditions of a planetary dictatorship appealing to the common good and global health?

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WHO: A Challenged World Organization

The World Health Organization is an agency of the UN (United Nations) specialized in health. Its constitution proclaims that its main objective is“to achieve the highest level of health for all people”.Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland, it has 6 regional offices and more than 150 representative offices throughout the world. It also has about 7,000 employees.

The beginning of the WHO is linked to the end of the Second World War and especially to the Yalta Conference of February 1945, when the leaders of the main allied powers, winners of the war, met to outline a common future, guarantee peace and propose strategies for organization and coexistence. There arose the proposal of creating this new organization, which would replace the existing or previous ones (such as the League of Nations). The UN International Organization Conference took place in April 1945 in the city of San Francisco, and its organization was carried out by the four world powers: the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union and China. At that time, 61 countries were part of the organization; today there are 194.