theflagoftheworldhealthorganizationtheworldhealthorganization(who)isaspecialisedunitednationsagencywhichactsasacoordinatorandresearcherforpublichealtharoundtheworld.establishedon7april1948,andheadquarteredingeneva,switzerland,theagencyinheritedthemandateandresourcesofitspredecessor,thehealthorganization,whichhadbeenanagencyoftheleagueofnations.thewho'sconstitutionstatesthatitsmission"istheattainmentbyallpeoplesofthehighestpossiblelevelofhealth."itsmajortaskistocombatdisease,especiallykeyinfectiousdiseases,andtopromotethegeneralhealthofthepeoplesoftheworld.examplesofitsworkincludeyearsoffightingsmallpox.in1979thewhodeclaredthatthediseasehadbeeneradicated-thefirstdiseaseinhistorytobecompletelyeliminatedbydeliberatehumandesign.thewhoisnearingsuccessindevelopingvaccinesagainstmalariaandschistosomiasisandaimstoeradicatepoliowithinthenextfewyears.theorganizationhasalreadyendorsedtheworld'sfirstofficialhiv/aidstoolkitforzimbabwefromoctober3,xx,makingitaninternationalstandard.
thewhoisfinancedbycontributionsfrommemberstatesandfromdonors.inrecentyearsthewho'sworkhasinvolvedmorecollaboration,currentlyaround80suchpartnerships,withngosandthepharmaceuticalindustry,aswellaswithfoundationssuchasthebillandmelindagatesfoundationandtherockefellerfoundation.voluntarycontributionstothewhofromnationalandlocalgovernments,foundationsandngos,otherunorganizations,andtheprivatesector(includingpharmaceuticalcompanies),nowexceedthatofassessedcontributions(dues)fromits193membernations.