The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations focused on public health. Founded in 1948, its mission is to promote global health, control disease outbreaks, and improve health systems worldwide. The WHO provides leadership on international health issues, sets health standards, conducts research, and offers technical assistance to countries. It plays a key role in responding to health crises like pandemics, and it works on various global health initiatives, including vaccination programs, mental health awareness, and the prevention of diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.