Celebrating 75 years of WHO: a poetic tribute

Overview

The mission of the World Health Organization (WHO) to save lives, prevent and cure diseases and promote well-being provides an endless source of inspiration for those who have devoted their lives to working towards it. To be a part of WHO, for however long, feels like an honour, and for long-serving staff to spend decades fully committed to the promotion of global health feels like a privilege. For all of us who serve WHO, its 75th anniversary in 2023 provided an opportunity to celebrate its achievements and to make clear our hopes for an even better future.
The WHO Poetry Garden was initiated following a call for ideas on how best to celebrate this significant anniversary year. Since its launch as an informal gathering of interested colleagues, the Poetry Garden has grown to become a weekly event. This small but diverse community of people is united by a shared recognition of the unique power of poetry in exchanging ideas and sharing experiences.
Poetry can sometimes be eye-opening, but reading and writing poems can also sooth and bring comfort and clarity to busy minds willing to share feelings and thoughts in verse. This poetic tribute to WHO was prepared as an offering from all three levels of WHO and is intended to present a more human face to the Organization. The first part of the book is devoted to celebrating the WHO anniversary and the great achievements made in its first 75 years of work. The second part focuses on the theme of health for all, while the third part touches on that elusive but undeniable link between art and health.