About WHO in Marshall Islands

About WHO in Marshall Islands

© WHO/Yoshi Shimizu
Children catching crabs during low tide.
© Credits

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, the Marshall Islands was assigned to the Western Pacific Region by the Sixth World Health Assembly ''without prejudice to any questions regarding sovereignty'' as an area. It joined WHO on 5 June 1991 as a Member State. Prior to joining WHO in 1991, the Republic was a member of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands dominated by the United States of America until the Office of the High Commissioner determined to end its existence on 10 July 1987. Thus all functions were transferred to individual governments including Marshall Islands.

The Marshall Islands was initially covered by the WHO Representative Office in Singapore, then by the WHO Representative Office in Taipei, China (Taiwan) from 1959 to 30 June 1972. In the same year, the responsibility for the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was transferred to the Regional Office. In 1976, it was decided that the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was to come under the WHO Representative Office in the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji. In August 2010, the WHO Country Liaison Office in the Federated States of Micronesia was established to cover Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.

 

Country Data

Health profile
 

Contact WHO

The WHO Country Liaison Officer in Northern Micronesia:
Dr Momoe Takeuchi

Office address:
Capitol Suites and Offices
Department of Health and Social Affairs
Suite 201
Palikir, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia

Postal address:
PO Box PS70
Department of Health and Social Affairs
Mogethin Building
Palikir, Pohnpei, FM 96941

Tel:
+691 320-2619
+691 320-2643
+691 320-2872

Office hours:
08.30 - 17.00 hours (Monday to Friday)

Email:
wpfsmclo@who.int

Ministry of Health

Address:
P.O. Box 16, Majuro, Marshall Islands

Tel:
+692 6257246 / 5660 / 5661

Fax:
+692 6253432 / 4543 / 4372