About WHO

About WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization (WHO) was established on 7 April 1948 as the directing and coordinating authority in global public health within the United Nations system. Working at three levels in the Organization (global, regional and country), more than 7000 WHO staff worldwide collaborate with the governments of 194 Member States and other partners to achieve the WHO founding vision of the attainment of the highest possible level of health by all people.

The Western Pacific Region

The WHO Western Pacific Region is home to more than one quarter of the world’s population, stretching over more than one third of the distance around the globe. In all, more than 600 WHO staff work in 15 country offices and the Regional Office in Manila, Philippines, to support Member States in achieving better health outcomes for the Region’s nearly 1.9 billion people in 37 countries and areas.

Tailored support for the Pacific

To coordinate and provide timely, tailored support and backstopping to 21 Pacific Island countries and areas, in 2010 the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office established the Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) in Suva, Fiji. The Division also includes six other offices in the Pacific; the Country Offices in Samoa and the Solomon Islands and Country Liaison Offices in Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga and Vanuatu. Working together as a Division, these offices provide support to: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna.

The Division’s work spans five main areas of work and is delivered in close collaboration with Pacific governments, other UN agencies, development partners, donors, and non-governmental organisations to achieve better health outcomes for Pacific Island communities.

 

WHO History

In May 1953, Guam was assigned to the Western Pacific Region at the Sixth World Health Assembly ''without prejudice to any questions regarding its sovereignty'' as an area. It is represented by the United States of America. 

Guam was covered by the WHO Representative Office in Singapore from 1 January 1957 after the Office was established in May 1956.

It was covered by the WHO Representative Office in Taipei, China (Taiwan) from 1959 to 30 June 1972, when the Office was closed. Responsibility over Guam was transferred to the Regional Office in 1972 and to the WHO Representative Office in Suva, Fiji in 1976. On 1 January 1980, the responsibility for dealing with WHO activities in Guam was transferred from the WHO Programme Coordinator in Suva, Fiji to the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific under the Office of the Director, Programme Management.

 

 

Contact WHO

WHO Representative for the South Pacific:
Dr Mark Jacobs

Office address:
Level 4 Provident Plaza One Downtown Boulevard 33 Ellery Street, Suva, Fiji

Postal address:
P.O. Box 113, Suva, Fiji

Tel:
+679 323 4100 (general line) 
+679 330 4116 (WR's direct line) 

Fax:
+679 323 4166
+679 323 4177

Office hours:
08.00 - 17.00 (Monday to Friday)

Email:
[email protected]

Department of Public Health and Social Services

Address:
123 Chalan Kareta Mangilao, Guam 96913-6304a

Tel:+612 6289 1555
Fax:+612 6289 7087

Website:
http://dphss.guam.gov/