Which UN agency is responsible for human health, including combating infectious diseases and health issues related to natural disasters?

Which UN agency is responsible for human health, including combating infectious diseases and health issues related to natural disasters?

• A. American Red Cross
• B. March of Dimes
• C. World Health Organization
• D. American Heart Association

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is identifying the global health leader that coordinates health protection and responses across countries. The World Health Organization is the United Nations’ specialized agency for health. It leads international efforts to detect and control infectious diseases, sets global health standards, provides technical assistance to countries, and organizes health emergency responses. When disasters strike, WHO helps manage health-related needs—containing outbreaks, guiding vaccination and treatment campaigns, and supporting health systems to prevent secondary illnesses. The other organizations listed are not UN agencies with this global health mandate. One focuses on disaster relief and humanitarian aid but is not a UN health agency; another concentrates on maternal and infant health in the United States; and the last is a national nonprofit focusing on cardiovascular health. So, the World Health Organization is the correct choice because of its global health leadership and disaster-response role.

The key idea here is identifying the global health leader that coordinates health protection and responses across countries. The World Health Organization is the United Nations’ specialized agency for health. It leads international efforts to detect and control infectious diseases, sets global health standards, provides technical assistance to countries, and organizes health emergency responses. When disasters strike, WHO helps manage health-related needs—containing outbreaks, guiding vaccination and treatment campaigns, and supporting health systems to prevent secondary illnesses.

The other organizations listed are not UN agencies with this global health mandate. One focuses on disaster relief and humanitarian aid but is not a UN health agency; another concentrates on maternal and infant health in the United States; and the last is a national nonprofit focusing on cardiovascular health. So, the World Health Organization is the correct choice because of its global health leadership and disaster-response role.