scholarly journals The Future of the World Health Organization: China and the United States Square Off

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 520-529
Author(s):  
Donald Lien ◽  
Joseph Kortsch
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Initial Response ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Political Movements ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
Health Organization

Summary The purpose of this essay is to discuss the ramifications of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic on the future of the World Health Organization (WHO). In particular, the WHO has come under fire for its initial response and reporting of the pandemic, its acceptance of Chinese self-reporting and management of the crisis and dubious claims that it failed to acknowledge and respond to data from Taiwan that indicated human–to-human transmission was occurring. These alleged missteps have brought unwanted and intense international scrutiny on the organisation and have, perhaps, left its future uncertain. This essay examines the history and mandate of the WHO, its vulnerability to national and regional political movements and some likely outcomes for the near- and long-term future. Additionally, it briefly addresses how the WHO is used as a diplomatic surrogate for the UN, especially in matters relating to Taiwan.

The Ethics of COVID-19 Vaccine Passports

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Joseph Meaney ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
The United States ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
World Health ◽  
Medical Decisions ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Divided Society ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

COVID-19 vaccine passports run the risk of creating a divided society where social privileges or restrictions based on “fitness” lead to discrimination based on immunization status. Individuals have a strong right to be free of coercion to take a COVID-19 vaccine, and we should be very leery of further invasion of private medical decisions. These concerns are shared both internationally and in the United States, and the World Health Organization, the Biden administration, and many US governors oppose COVID-19 vaccine credentials. In addition, regulations for COVID-19 vaccine credentials face practical barriers, including lack of access globally, especially among the poor; and lack of scientific data on the efficacy of these vaccines.

Letters to the Editors

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-504
Author(s):  
Stuart H. Walker
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

My letter1 called attention to the frequency with which in the United States hypernatremia has been associated with the unsupervised administration of solutions containing sodium in amounts as low as 20 to 50 mmoles/liter.2,3 It has not been demonstrated that solutions similar to that recommended by the World Health Organization (80 to 90 mmoles of sodium per liter), designed for supervised use in the management of the infantile diarrheas of developing countries, are safe in unsupervised use in the United States.

scholarly journals Recommendations for Adopting the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes Into U.S. Policy

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 582-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Soldavini ◽  
Lindsey Smith Taillie
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Breast Milk ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
International Code ◽  
The World ◽  
Breast Milk Substitutes ◽  
Milk Substitutes ◽  
Health Organization

In 1981, the World Health Organization adopted the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes ( International Code), with subsequent resolutions adopted since then. The International Code contributes to the safe and adequate provision of nutrition for infants by protecting and promoting breastfeeding and ensuring that human milk substitutes, when necessary, are used properly through adequate information and appropriate marketing and distribution. Despite the World Health Organization recommendations for all member nations to implement the International Code in its entirety, the United States has yet to take action to translate it into any national measures. In 2012, only 22.3% of infants in the United States met the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation of at least 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding. Countries adopting legislation reflecting the provisions of the International Code have seen increases in breastfeeding rates. This article discusses recommendations for translating the International Code into U.S. policy. Adopting legislation that implements, monitors, and enforces the International Code in its entirety has the potential to contribute to increased rates of breastfeeding in the United States, which can lead to improved health outcomes in both infants and breastfeeding mothers.

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