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.
WHO Country Office, Türkiye
The role of a WHO country office is 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, making standards and agreements, and ensuring that public health measures are coordinated and in place during crises.
The WHO Country Office in Türkiye was established in 1959 in Ankara as the focal point for WHO technical cooperation in the country. It also hosts an emergency field office in Gaziantep to respond to the crisis in north-western Syria. Its priorities
are set out in the biennial collaborative agreement between WHO/Europe and Türkiye. The Office implements the agreement in close collaboration with national institutions and international partner agencies.
The WHO country team consists of 38 people in Ankara and 25 people in Gaziantep, including experts in the fields of:
- health systems and public health;
- emergency preparedness and response;
- noncommunicable diseases and mental health;
- communicable diseases;
- monitoring and evaluation;
- mental health;
- health security;
- migration and health; and
- injury prevention.
