International Organization
Appears in 6 stories
The World Health Organization conducted a landmark study estimating the potential health benefits of universal rural water access in India. - Conducted health impact assessment of Jal Jeevan Mission
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Jal Jeevan Mission from the Red Fort on Independence Day 2019, just 16.7% of rural Indian households had tap water connections. Six years later, that figure has climbed to 81.6%—representing 157.9 million households now receiving piped water in their homes. The program has connected roughly 12.5 crore (125 million) new households, making it one of the fastest and largest infrastructure expansions in human history.
Updated Feb 10
The UN agency responsible for international public health, coordinating global disease surveillance and emergency response. - Leading global pandemic preparedness coordination despite US withdrawal
Six years ago, the World Health Organization sounded its highest alarm for COVID-19, a disease that would kill over 7 million people by official counts and likely more than 20 million when including excess deaths. The question now: Is the world any better prepared for the next pandemic?
Updated Feb 2
The WHO is responsible for certifying countries as Guinea worm-free and is the only organization that can officially declare a disease eradicated. - Certifying body for disease eradication
In 1986, Guinea worm disease afflicted 3.5 million people annually across 21 nations. In 2025, only 10 human cases were recorded worldwide—the lowest number ever. If eradication succeeds, Guinea worm will become the second human disease eliminated globally after smallpox, and the first conquered without any medicine or vaccine.
The UN's global health coordinating body, with 194 member states (now 193), responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak response, and setting international health standards. - Lost largest national funder; implementing 25% workforce reduction; secured 75% of 2026-2027 budget from remaining members with 20% fee increase
The United States joined the World Health Organization on June 14, 1948, three years after helping design it. On January 22, 2026, the U.S. became the first country to complete a withdrawal from the agency—walking away from 77 years of leadership in global health. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. jointly announced the withdrawal's completion, citing the WHO's 'failures during the COVID-19 pandemic' and its inability to demonstrate independence from 'inappropriate political influence.' The U.S. departed without paying between $130 million and $278 million in disputed dues, with the administration asserting no obligation to pay prior to exit.
Updated Jan 23
WHO keeps the scorecard on which regions still count measles as eliminated – and which have slipped. - Monitors regional elimination status and global measles resurgence
Measles, the virus the U.S. declared vanquished in 2000, is back with a vengeance. In 2025 it has infected nearly 2,000 Americans, with runaway outbreaks now in South Carolina’s Upstate and the Arizona–Utah border towns, forcing hundreds of mostly unvaccinated students and families into quarantine.
Updated Dec 11, 2025
The United Nations specialized agency for health, coordinating international responses to infectious diseases, setting standards and providing technical support to countries. - Technical lead and normative authority on polio eradication; convener of IHR Emergency Committee on polio
Global donors used a pledging event in Abu Dhabi on 8 December 2025 to commit US$1.9 billion to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), temporarily stabilizing a flagship global health campaign that is facing a 30% budget cut in 2026 and a multi‑year funding gap. The largest pledges — US$1.2 billion from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and US$450 million from Rotary International — narrow the shortfall in GPEI’s 2022–2029 strategy to roughly US$440 million but do not fully close it. The event comes as wild poliovirus transmission has resurged in Afghanistan and Pakistan and vaccine‑derived polio continues to spark outbreaks in under‑immunized communities worldwide.
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