<P> The World Health Organization ( WHO ) acts as a coordinating authority on international public health and deals with health and sanitation and diseases and sends medical teams to help combat epidemics . Established on 7 April 1948 , the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor , the Health Organization , which had been an agency of the League of Nations . It was established in April 7 , 1948 when 26 members of the United Nations ratified its Constitution . April 7 is celebrated as the World Health Day every year . The WHO is governed by 194 Member States through the World Health Assembly . Its headquarters are at Geneva in Switzerland . </P>
the specialized agency that serves as the public health division of the united nations is
The World Health Organization ( WHO )