About WHO in Kyrgyzstan

World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO was founded in 1948 to work for the attainment of the highest possible level of health by all peoples. WHO works with 194 Member States, providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, and articulating evidence-based policy options. It also provides technical support to Member States, monitors and assesses health trends, funds medical research and provides emergency aid during disasters. Through its programmes, WHO also works to improve nutrition, housing, sanitation and working conditions around the world. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and has six regional offices around the world.

The European Region (WHO/Europe)

WHO/Europe is one of WHO’s six regional offices around the world. It serves the WHO European Region, which comprises 53 countries, covering a vast geographical region from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. WHO/Europe staff are public health, scientific and technical experts, based in the main office in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 7 technical centres and in country offices in 30 Member States (plus one planned). In addition, WHO/Europe coordinates with the European Union and its agencies, and is host organization and partner of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.

About WHO in Kyrgyzstan

Since opening the Country Office in Kyrgyzstan in 1994, WHO has focused on: improving the population’s health and addressing health inequalities; health sector reform; and enhancement of access to quality health-care services.

The role of the WHO Country Office is also to respond to requests from the host country to support policy-making for sustainable health development, taking a holistic health-system approach. This includes providing guidance, building up local relationships to implement technical cooperation, preparing standards and agreements, and ensuring that public health measures are coordinated and in place during crises.

Over the years, the Office has been the focal point for all WHO activities in Kyrgyzstan. In 2015, the Country Office profile was upgraded: the Office is now under the leadership of a WHO Representative/Head of Country Office and is scaling up the level of activities to support national policy development.

WHO country offices represent WHO in its work to:

• support the development of policies and strategies in the health sector and those influencing health;
• channel technical advice and provide capacity-building;
• promote and develop partnerships;
• promote the health dimension;
• share information on health topics.

WHO’s corporate leadership priorities give focus and direction to work at all levels of the Organization. They are areas in which it is vital for WHO to lead – the key issues which stand out from the body of its work. These are:

• advancing universal health coverage;
• achieving health-related development goals;
• addressing noncommunicable diseases, mental health, violence, and injuries and disabilities;
• detecting and responding to acute public health threats under the International Health Regulations;
• increasing access to good-quality, safe, efficacious and affordable medical products;
• addressing the social, economic and environmental determinants of health.

Kyrgyzstan implements WHO strategies with the aim of achieving universal health coverage and strengthening the health system; improving public health service capacity; addressing health security; and strengthening the control of communicable and noncommunicable diseases. Priorities for joint work are set out in the biennial collaborative agreement between WHO/Europe and Kyrgyzstan.