World Health Organization (WHO) has a sustainability plan in place to create a win-win situation in the environmental, climatic and healthcare contexts with attention being redirected at the attainment of immediate impacts (World Health Organization, 2017). The new mission of the organization is aimed at reducing emission of methane, carbon dioxide and black carbon besides other related gases that have adverse effects on the environment. These emissions are not only considered as short-lived climatic pollutants; they also produce what can be considered as strong effects of global warming. Therefore, part of the objectives of the sustainability plan is to make sure that health related risks and even premature deaths that are associated with air pollution are minimized as much as possible. WHO is envisioned at making sure that all people in different parts of the world are able to live productive and healthy lives regardless of where they are.
Through global sustainable development, the organization is focused at offering unique approaches of addressing political, economic and social determinants of health and more importantly, making sure that people are able to attain overall well-being and quality health. According to the director general of the organization, the achievement of this fundamental vision will require an effective and stronger WHO that can address emerging challenges and at the same time attain healthcare objectives for sustainable development (World Health Organization, 2018). Besides its vision, the organization’s mission for sustainability include dissemination and publication of public information that can be used by practitioners, researchers and policy makers to improve the quality of healthcare and more so in disadvantaged populations.
The director general is the person who is in charge of WHOs’ sustainability issues (World Health Organization, 2018). The director general is responsible for assessing the overall effectiveness of the organization and uses that as the basis for establishing sustainable development goals for the future. He/she is as well obliged to engage different stakeholders in assessing the functionalities of the organization in different areas before coming up with measures that can necessitate the implementation of different aspects of the organization’s sustainable development plans. Furthermore, the director general is as well responsible for coordinating the evaluation of some of the key resources of the corporation and subsequently determines if they are sufficient to fulfill sustainability goals. Another fundamental role that is played by the director general includes coordination the creation of an all-round mission and vision statements for sustainable development. Other duties include heading sustainable development meetings, sharing the organization’s sustainable development goals in international conferences and making sure that mechanisms are in place for the implementation of sustainable development objectives among other responsibilities.
Sustainability is important for the operations of World Health Organization because it provides basis for working with partners towards the attainment of the fundamental objectives of the organization (World Health Organization, 2017). Also, the measure is essential because it provides room for engaging different world countries and more importantly, strengthening the level of partnerships in different undertakings. Through sustainability, World Health Organization is able to place health as part of the primary global agendas. Other significances include and are not limited to putting people’s health first and creating a world where people have equal chances of living productive and healthy lives.
There are a number of measures that World Health Organization has put in place to address its sustainability development goals. First, the organization is determined to end all forms of poverty across the world by providing people with necessary support that can relieve them poverty (United Nations, 2017). Second, World Health Organization focuses on ending hunger, promoting sustainable agriculture, improving nutrition and achieving food security. A wide range of investments are already in place to create vibrant and productive agriculture aimed at building and promoting food security. Third, the organization is aimed at making sure that there are healthy lives besides promotion of overall well-being at all ages. Fourth, measures are in place to make sure that there is equitable and inclusive quality education as well as the promotion of lifelong learning chances for all. Fifth, the organization has sustainability measures in place to attain gender equality and at the same time empower girls and women (United Nations, 2017). Other rationales that have been implemented include putting mechanisms in place to ensure sustainable and available management of water and sanitation for all people, promoting access to modern, sustainable, reliable and affordable energy and promoting sustainable, inclusive and productive employment for all among others.
A number of efforts have already been undertaken by World Health Organization to address sustainability issues (United Nations, 2017). For instance, the organization has providing countries with guidance on some of the standard operational procedures for addressing environmental issues and conducting campaigns aimed at preventing air pollution. Also, the organization has been at the forefront at tackling vector-borne diseases as well as other health risks that are associated with climate change through improved healthcare assessments, adaptation of strategies for countering the disorders and pushing for climate mitigation. Campaigns are also in place to promote accessibility to clean water and dealing with water pollution. Lastly, mechanisms are in place to address issues of chemicals and wastes through the promotion of more sustainable chemicals and waste management.
Sustainability efforts of World Health Organization are measured by assessing the level of healthcare accessibility (United Nations, 2017). Also, the success of the mission can be determined by finding out the number of people who have been engaged to promote the attainment of sustainable development goals. There is also a great chance for evaluating the effectiveness of the efforts through the manner in which resources are mobilized. The manner in which the global community will able to place healthcare and environmental issues as part of the core agendas will also serve as a great indicator for assessing the organization’s efforts.
- United Nations. (2017). The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2017. Retrieved from https://unstats.un.org
- World Health Organization. (2017).Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/mental_health/suicide-prevention/SDGs/en/
- World Health Organization. (2018). Vision Statement By WHO Director-General. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/dg/vision/en/
