The World Health Organisation (WHO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. It has addressed pandemics (COVID-19, HINI, Ebola), vaccination campaigns (polio eradication), and universal health coverage. It is crucial in coordinating international responses to health emergencies and promoting universal health coverage, disease prevention, and health equity worldwide.
WHO is important for delegates because it allows them to explore global health issues like pandemics, mental health, healthcare access, and understand the organisation’s proceedings. Engaging with WHO topics enhances critical thinking. research, and analytical skills. Delegates learn to interpret health data, evaluate the impact of diseases, and propose realistic solutions. This exposure also encourages interest in public health, medicine, global development, and international relations.
The Greater Horn of Africa faces a severe and multifaceted health crisis driven by drought, conflict, and displacement. Millions are at risk of malnutrition, waterborne diseases and preventable illnesses due to inadequate sanitation and strained healthcare systems. Outbreaks of cholera, measles, and other communicable diseases are recurring, while limited access to clean water and basic hygiene infrastructure exacerbates the situation.
The WHO committee will focus on proposing strategies to stabilize and strengthen health systems, improve nutrition, and prevent disease outbreaks. Delegates will discuss coordinated interventions, resource mobilization, and community-based programs to improve sanitation and access to healthcare. The aim is to develop sustainable, scalable solutions that reduce morbidity and mortality while building local resilience against ongoing and future crises.
While immediate physical needs in displacement settings are often prioritized, long-term displacement has created a silent mental health pandemic. Refugees and internally displaced persons experience chronic stress, trauma, and uncertainty that affects individuals across generations, impacting education, productivity, and social cohesion. Mental health remains under-addressed despite its central role in overall humanitarian outcomes.
In this committee, delegates will explore strategies to integrate mental health care into humanitarian response, emphasizing trauma-informed approaches, psychosocial support and legal frameworks that recognize psychological well-being as a fundamental human right. The aim is to ensure that mental health is treated as a core pillar of aid, with scalable programs, funding mechanisms, and international cooperation designed to alleviate the long-term psychological toll of displacement.
