Capella FPX 4055 Assessment 2

Student Name

Capella University

NURS-FPX4055 Optimizing Population Health through Community Practice

Prof. Name:

Date

Community Resources

World Health Organization (WHO), an organization of the United Nations, is committed to attaining the highest level of health for all the population it serves. It protects people from health emergencies (WHO, 2025). This paper focuses on how WHO’s purpose and vision shape its contributions to security and public wellness, improving living standards, and promoting equal opportunities. It will also examine the WHO’s regional and national importance, funding options, policy engagement, and nurses’ role in the organization’s efforts for health.

The Role of Mission and Vision in Advancing Public Health and Safety

WHO’s mission is to improve health, keep the population safe, and protect the vulnerable, with tangible outcomes for individuals nationally (WHO, 2025-b). Its goal and vision are to give broad medical coverage to all people, safeguard them from medical emergencies, and improve the wellness and health of people (2025-a). The WHO is committed to dignity, universality, and equality (WHO, 2025-b). WHO’s basic principles allow it to create, organize, and carry out various initiatives aimed at public health, such as mental wellness and infection-related illnesses. The goal and vision provide a framework for implementing efforts that increase equity in care and promote population health and safety.

The Mental Health Gap Action Program (mhGAP) is a recognized WHO effort that illustrates the organization’s commitment to its purpose and vision. mhGAP strives to increase care for disorders of the mind, brain, and substance use in nations with low or middle incomes, thereby enhancing population safety and well-being. The program promises that with competent care, psychosocial support, and medicine, people can be rehabilitated for depression and other disorders, avoid suicide, and improve patient safety (WHO, 2020). By aligning its actions with its mission and vision, WHO contributes to safer settings and improved outcomes for vulnerable populations regionally and nationwide.

WHO’s Role in Encouraging Quality of Life and Equal Opportunity

WHO systematically addresses healthcare provision’s socio-economic, physical, and cultural aspects via effective initiatives to improve community outcomes. It acknowledges the influence of social determinants of health (SDOH), like schooling, job status, social help, and stigma on healthcare services. Borkowski and Borkowska (2024), stated that inferior socioeconomic position, low education, rural citizenship, and refugee status are all linked to poor medical results in those with chronic illnesses. They cause higher comorbidity and death and lower standards of living. The WHO highlights the need for universal health coverage (UHC), to fight social inequalities in health and provides targeted responses to vulnerable people such as refugees, indigenous populations, persons with disability, etc.

It improves access to crucial drugs and healthcare products (WHO, 2025-a). Its initiatives include working to end systemic discrimination in health care access through initiatives like the Social Determinants of Health framework. However, the effect varies depending on the region, as each government has a different degree of cooperation and the state of local infrastructure. Further, the WHO understands that economic issues influence medical provision. By advocating for UHC, it ensures equitable access to key services, regardless of financial standing or limited resources. Ensuring fair reimbursement for healthcare and asset allocation allows communities like African and Latin American to access medical services regardless of their fiscal state, boosting outcomes.

The WHO recognizes the impact of cultural factors on the supply of healthcare and acceptance of health services. Cultural attitudes and stigma, for example, restrict optimal healthcare provision in some communities like African Americans, and people refuse to take foreign help. The WHO promotes culturally sensitive healthcare by working with local leaders, fostering an inclusive medical setting, and addressing cultural aspects. For instance, WHO promote the involvement of intercultural mediators into medical setting to deliver fair treatment to vulnerable people, including refugees. Intercultural mediators offer services that include translating, campaigning against institutional prejudice, and providing psychosocial assistance (WHO, 2021).

However, cultural beliefs are deeply rooted and still prevent progress. Physical barriers that hinder the care are a critical issue among underserved communities. The distinctive geography, transit inaccessibility, and distance from varied facilities impede quick and accurate diagnosis, therapy, and administration of health issues. To address this issue, the WHO has created a Global Standard for Accessibility of Telehealth Services to overcome physical obstacles to healthcare by ensuring that telehealth services are available to individuals with impairments (WHO, 2022). However, a knowledge or digital literacy gap can impede progress; still, the WHO can improve community safety and health results through initiatives.

Funding, Policy, and Law’s Effect on WHO’s Service Provision

WHO receives funds from two primary resources: assessed contributions (AC) paid by Member States and voluntary donations from Partner States and other stakeholders. Every two years, Member States authorize a fraction of 20.1% of the overall budget. The remaining funding for WHO comes from private contributions, which are mostly made by various United Nations entities, global organizations, charitable foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other agencies (WHO, 2024-a). WHO allocates this funding to support projects aimed at providing equal and high-quality treatment to individuals while also preventing chronic illnesses such as mental disorders and disasters. However, shifting donor priorities can impact the continuity and accessibility of these initiatives, reducing community access to support programs.

Ogunsola and Mehtar (2020) state that a lack of funding and assets creates substantial healthcare management challenges, resulting in insufficient avoidance and therapeutic services. The WHO’s policies impact its operations and program execution. The WHO’s policies related to UHC have placed a greater emphasis on ensuring equal access to healthcare for all, regardless of their economic status. The UHC strategy impacts communities since it fosters activities to address SDOH and boosts access to medical facilities, including care products and drugs, and ensures adequate medical care for all (WHO, 2025-a). Enhanced access to vital healthcare services boost individual and community results by addressing health disparities.

National and global laws and policies shape the WHO’s actions by specifying the healthcare context and outlining the WHO’s actions. The International Health Regulations (IHR) direct their efforts to prevent, preserve, regulate, and address worldwide medical issues. The IHR describes strategies for acquiring approaches in recognizing and responding to threats to community wellness. It has repercussions for people’s access to services and safety. The IHR permits WHO to identify and coordinate responses to public health emergencies of international concern (PHEIC), such as the latest COVID-19 pandemic (Health, 2022). Following the laws enables the WHO to expand response actions in a global health crisis. However, inconsistencies in legislative structures across countries might result in discrepancies in execution, restricting program efficacy for specific communities. These define the scope of WHO services and have implications for the health and security of families and communities in American and Africa.

WHO’s Impact on Community Health and the Role of Nurses

The efforts of the WHO are vital to addressing SDOH to improve community health and safety. The initiatives related to offering remote care through telehealth services and UHC improve the provision of care services (WHO, 2025-a), providing help to all individuals in the community like Latin Americans, improving safety and medical outcomes. The WHO’s effort assists communities in preventing serious diseases such as mental illnesses by increasing capacity and offering ongoing support. For example, WHO’s program mhGAP boosts care for disorders of the mind, brain, and substance use, particularly in nations with low or middle incomes, including Latin America and Africa, enhancing community well-being.

The program offers competent care, psychosocial support, and medicine to people for rehabilitation, improving their health (WHO, 2020). During epidemics like COVID-19, the WHO provides critical support through specialist knowledge, vital assets, and coordination. It safeguards the people by controlling the consequences of these diseases through ongoing assistance and care.Nurses play an essential part in supporting organizational initiatives for community well-being. They work with the WHO to ensure successful healthcare provision. They contribute to improved overall wellness through medical awareness, illness prevention, and care for ill and disabled individuals.

WHO can collaborate with nurses to boost medical services, as they are active personnel who deal with medical emergencies and contribute to avoiding infection. They are also necessary for delivering important medical services such as outreach, preventative education, and treatment. They are also members of their communities, understanding their culture, abilities, and weaknesses, and can design and implement therapy to address the demands of patients, families, and populations (WHO, 2024-b). Nurses’ involvement can increase the WHO’s impact and improve measures that promote safer, inclusive settings for populations.

Conclusion

WHO constantly works to improve public well-being, security, and health worldwide. Its extensive initiatives and strategies, like mhGAP and UHC standards for telehealth, lead to improved community safety and health outcomes. Through its efforts, WHO addresses SDOH and health disparities to ensure equal care services to the population. WHO achieves results through financing support paired with enabling policies that create healthier community settings.

References

Borkowski, P., & Borkowska, N. (2024). The impact of social determinants of health on outcomes among individuals with HIV and heart failure: A literature review. Cureus, 16(3), e55913. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.55913

Health, T. L. G. (2022). The future of the International Health Regulations. The Lancet. Global Health, 10(7), e927. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00254-6

Ogunsola, F. T., & Mehtar, S. (2020). Challenges regarding the control of environmental sources of contamination in healthcare settings in low-and middle-income countries-a narrative review. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 9(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-020-00747-0

WHO. (2020). Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP). World Health Organization.int. https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/treatment-care/mental-health-gap-action-programme