The World Health Organisation
About the World Health Organization (WHO)
The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialized agency for health. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined by the WHO as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
WHO is governed by 193 Member States through the World Health Assembly. The Health Assembly is composed of representatives from WHO's Member States. The main tasks of the World Health Assembly are to approve the WHO program and the budget and make decisions on major policy questions.
Our partnership with WHO
The World Heart Federation is a close partner of the World Health Organization's division for Noncommunicable Diseases - NCD. It is the leading NGO recognized by the World Health Organization as a partner in heart disease prevention and control.
Collaboration between the World Heart Federation and the WHO encompasses the following areas:
- World Heart Day/Global Embrace
- Rheumatic Fever/Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
- Global NCD Strategy
- Diet & Nutrition Policy
- Physical Activity Policy/Move for Health
- Mental Health and CVD
- World Health Report launch
- WHO SuRF (Surveillance on Risk Factors) Report
In addition, the World Heart Federation is involved in various WHO’s meetings:
- Meeting of Interested Parties (Geneva)
- Executive Board (Geneva)
- World Health Assembly (Geneva)
- NCD Global Strategy (Shanghai)
- Third Global Forum on non-communicable diseases, prevention and control (Rio)
- Diet Consultation (Geneva)
- Physical Activity Consultation (Geneva)
- Informal meeting on Health Professional Organizations and Tobacco Control (Geneva)
- Reducing Salt intake in Populations, WHO Forum and Technical Meeting (Paris)
Finally, the World Heart Federation and the WHO collaborate on a number of publications. View the full list.
Latest publications
- Avoiding Heart Attacks and Strokes - Don't be a victim, protect yourself!" (2005)
- SuRF (Surveillance of Risk Factors)
- Preventing chronic diseases: a vital investment