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- Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) chief urged global leaders to put pressure on Washington to reconsider President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the U.N. health agency.
- About the World Health Organization (WHO):
- WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations focused on public health.
- Established in 1948, the WHO aims to ensure the highest attainable level of health for all people globally.
- According to the WHO Constitution, health is defined as complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
- The organization plays a crucial role in global health leadership, shaping health research agendas, setting norms and standards, providing technical support to countries, and monitoring and assessing health trends worldwide.
- WHO currently has 193 member countries and two associate members.
- The WHO's administrative headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Structure:
- Governance: The governance of WHO is carried out through the World Health Assembly, which meets annually to discuss and set policies, and an Executive Board consisting of health specialists elected for three-year terms by the Assembly.
- The WHO is led by a Director-General, who is nominated by the Executive Board and appointed by the World Health Assembly.
- Funding:
- About 16% of WHO’s budget comes from mandatory dues paid by its member countries, while the rest is funded through voluntary donations from governments and private partners.
- The largest contributors in recent years have included the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- World Health Day:
- Each year, April 7, the anniversary of its founding, is celebrated as World Health Day by WHO.
- The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer recently announced its decision to voluntarily withdraw its sickle cell disease treatment, Oxbryta, from global markets due to the emergence of clinical data linking the drug to “fatal events.”
- About the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC):
- The IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian network, established in 1919 and headquartered in Geneva. It unites 192 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, along with approximately 100 million volunteers worldwide.
- The primary mission of the IFRC is to improve the conditions of the most vulnerable populations, providing international emergency assistance to people affected by both natural and man-made disasters, including those displaced by conflict and health crises.
- In addition to its emergency response efforts, the IFRC works to enhance disaster preparedness in vulnerable communities, helping them become more resilient in the face of future crises. The Federation strengthens the capacities of its member societies to deliver effective emergency relief, disaster preparedness, and health and community care programs.
- The IFRC also represents its member societies on the international stage and addresses global humanitarian issues such as rapid urbanization, climate change, migration, and violence.
- Funding: The IFRC relies on voluntary contributions from governments, NGOs, corporate donors, and the public.
- Relationship with ICRC: The IFRC collaborates closely with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which focuses on humanitarian law and aid in conflict zones.
- At the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting held in Brazil, the BRICS Land Restoration Partnership was officially launched. India reiterated its strong commitment to inclusive, equitable, and sustainable agriculture, while all BRICS nations emphasized the importance of building a resilient and sustainable agri-food system.
- About the Partnership:
- The initiative aims to combat land degradation, desertification, and declining soil fertility. It focuses on supporting small farmers, tribal communities, and local cultivators by blending traditional farming wisdom with modern scientific approaches.
- Why It Matters:
- Land degradation is a pressing issue—around 32% of India’s land is degraded and 25% faces desertification, according to FAO.
- India’s Efforts in Sustainable Agriculture:
- Key initiatives include the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), and water-saving schemes like "Per Drop More Crop." India also promotes climate-resilient crops, precision farming, and digital platforms such as AgriStack to support long-term sustainability.
- On the 10th anniversary of UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGPs), 16 new sites from 11 countries were added to the Global Geoparks Network (GGN), a non-profit body under UNESCO that promotes ethical standards for geopark management.
- These geoparks are recognized for their international geological importance and are managed with an emphasis on conservation, education, and sustainable development.
- Among the new entries are Kanbula in China, known for its preserved Maixiu volcanoes and the Yellow River; Mt Paektu in North Korea, which witnessed one of the largest eruptions around 1000 CE; and North Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, home to Wadi Obaitharan and ancient coral reef systems.
- UGGPs were established in 2015 under UNESCO’s International Geosciences and Geoparks Programme.
- These sites must be legally recognized and undergo reassessment every four years. Membership in GGN is compulsory for all UGGPs.
- Currently, there are 229 UNESCO Global Geoparks across 50 countries—none located in India.
- The United Nations Development Programme’s 2025 Human Development Report, titled "A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI," emphasizes the growing influence of artificial intelligence in shaping future development. India climbed three places to rank 130 out of 193 countries, remaining in the medium human development category with an HDI value of 0.685.
- Life expectancy in India reached a record 72 years in 2023, and the average years of schooling rose to 13. However, challenges persist—India’s GNI per capita ranks seven spots below its HDI rank, and gender inequality remains a concern, with India ranking 102nd on the Gender Inequality Index.
- Globally, human development progress has slowed to its weakest pace since 1990, with widening disparities. On the AI front, India leads in self-reported AI skills, ranks 4th in the Global AI Index, and retains 20% of its AI researchers domestically—up from near-zero in 2019.