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UN System Documentation

World Health Organization (WHO)

Secretary-General António Guterres (left) and Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed (centre) meet with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General-elect of the World Health Organization (WHO), 2017; UN Photo 726470

World Health Organization (WHO)

  • Constitution adopted by 61 countries in 1946. WHO formally established on 7 Apr. 1948
  • Relationship Agreement with UN (1948)
  • Governing Bodies
    • WHO Assembly
      • All Member States
      • Meets annually
    • Executive Board
      • 34 members
  • Basic Documents
  • Flagship publications
  • Data
  • Digital Repository
  • Library
  • Directors-General
    • 2017- : Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Ethiopia)
    • 2007-2017: Margaret Chan (China)
    • 2006-2007: Anders Nordström (Sweden) (Acting Director)
    • 2003-2006: Jong Wook Lee (Republic of Korea)
    • 1998-2003: Gro Harlem Brundtland (Norway) (Press release SG/SM/6447-SAG/1 [1998])
    • 1988-1998: Hiroshi Nakajima (Japan) (Press release BIO/2780-H/2804 [1993])
    • 1973-1988: Halfdan T. Mahler (Denmark) (Press release H/2276-BIO/1022 [1973], H/2292-BIO/1035 [1973])
    • 1953-1973: Marcolino Gomes Candau (Brazil)
    • 1948-1953: Brock Chisholm (Canada)