International Migrants Day 2024: WHO launches Dashboard of Global Experiences on Refugee and Migrant Health

In commemoration of the International Migrants Day 2024, on Wednesday, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Health and Migration Department introduced the Dashboard of Global Experiences on Refugee and Migrant Health.

According to report, the initiative aims to advance the priority areas of the WHO Global Action Plan (GAP) on the Health of Refugees and Migrants 2019–2030.

The vision behind the Dashboard

As gathered by the Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), the Director of WHO Health and Migration, Dr. Santino Severoni, presented the initiative on a live video, celebrate the International Migrants Day 2024.

Severoni emphasized the significance of addressing health challenges faced by refugees and migrants while fostering global collaboration.

He said: “More than one billion people are on the move today driven by conflicts, climate disasters, and the search for a better life.

“With this movement comes significant health challenges.

“Ensuring that refugees and migrants have access to timely, affordable, and dignified health care is vital for achieving health for all.

“We are pleased to introduce the Dashboard on Global Experiences in Promoting Refugees and Migrant Health, an interactive digital repository showcasing global efforts to improve the health and well-being of the people on the move.

“Since the adoption of WHO Global Action Plan (GAP), on Promoting the Health of Refugees and Migrants in 2019, countries have worked tirelessly to transform policies into actions

“The Dashboard features 140 examples from 63 countries.

“Those demonstrate how governments and partners are delivering tailored essential services to refugees and migrants.

“This dashboard is more than just data.

“It is a platform for learning and collaboration.

About WHO

The origins of the WHO trace back to the International Sanitary Conferences (ISC), which began in 1851 and continued until 1938.

The first conference, held in Paris, focused on cholera, which remained a significant concern throughout the 19th century.

Due to uncertainties surrounding the causes and transmission of many epidemic diseases, reaching international consensus on health measures proved challenging.

Seven conferences were convened over 41 years before any resulted in a multi-state agreement.

The seventh conference in Venice in 1892 led to a convention focused on sanitary control of shipping through the Suez Canal to prevent cholera importation.

In 1897, another convention addressed the bubonic plague, signed by sixteen of the nineteen states present at the Venice conference.

Although Denmark, Sweden-Norway, and the United States did not sign, there was unanimous agreement to codify previous conference work.

Subsequent conferences from 1902 to 1938 expanded the scope to include yellow fever, brucellosis, leprosy, tuberculosis, and typhoid.

The success of these conferences contributed to the establishment of the Pan-American Sanitary Bureau in 1902 and the Office International d’Hygiène Publique in 1907.

Following World War II, the United Nations integrated these health organizations to form the WHO.

Established on April 7, 1948, the WHO began its work on September 1 of the same year.

It inherited the assets and responsibilities of the League of Nations’ Health Organization and the Paris-based Office International d’Hygiène Publique, including the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

The organization’s activities gained momentum in 1951, following a significant increase in financial and technical resources.

The World Health Organization (WHO) serves as a specialized agency of the United Nations, focusing on global public health.

Its headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland, and it operates six regional offices along with 150 field offices worldwide.

Only sovereign states can participate in the organization, making it the largest intergovernmental health entity globally.

Aims of WHO

The WHO aims to achieve the highest possible health standards for all people, defining health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, rather than merely the absence of disease.

Functions of WHO

Its primary functions include controlling epidemic and endemic diseases, enhancing public health education and training, and establishing international standards for biological products.

The WHO’s official mandate emphasizes promoting health and safety while assisting vulnerable populations globally.

It provides technical support to countries, sets international health standards, collects health data, and facilitates scientific and policy discussions.

The WHO publishes the World Health Report, which assesses global health topics.

Achievements

The organization has achieved significant public health milestones, including the eradication of smallpox, near-eradication of polio, and the development of an Ebola vaccine.

Its current priorities encompass communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS, Ebola, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

The WHO also focuses on healthy diets, nutrition, food security, occupational health, and substance abuse.

It advocates for universal health coverage and coordinates responses to health emergencies.

Governance

Governance of the WHO is managed by the World Health Assembly (WHA), which consists of 194 member states.

The WHA elects an executive board of 34 health specialists and appoints the director-general, currently Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus from Ethiopia.

The assembly sets the organization’s goals, priorities, and budget.

Funding

The WHO primarily receives funding from member state contributions, both assessed and voluntary, along with private donations.

Its approved budget for 2020-2021 exceeded $7.2 billion, while the budget for 2022-2023 was over $6.2 billion.

The budget for 2024-2025 is set at $6.83 billion.

However, every December 18th is the International Migrants Day.

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