What we do

WHO’s activities during health emergencies are designed to ensure sustainable improvements to the resilience of health systems and their ability to deliver safe and scalable clinical care during health emergencies. WHO also places a strong focus on strengthening collaborative surveillance capabilities, community protection and the delivery of equitable access to medical countermeasures to strengthen systems for future emergencies.

WHO’s on-the-ground presence in more than 150 countries means that when a health crisis strikes, our experts are able to serve as first responders and rapidly coordinate support.

All health emergencies begin and end in communities. When WHO responds to a health emergency, it does so in collaboration with affected communities, health care professionals, local authorities and partners to design a response that has maximum impact because it is tailored to each specific context.

WHO plays a crucial role as the official Health Cluster Lead during emergencies, coordinating teams across health ministries, UN agencies, WHO itself, and over 1600 operational partners – ensuring that the right resources are used to their best effect.

WHO ensures an effective and adaptable response to health emergencies by putting accurate, timely information into the hands of key decision-makers.

WHO leads the logistical operations support during health emergencies – delivering rapid, flexible and predictable access to life-saving services and supplies to communities in need, often in some of the most remote and challenging contexts.