# WHO Athena API MCP MCP > WHO Athena API provides programmatic access to global health indicators from the World Health Organization. It lets your AI agent audit historical medical data and track public health trends across countries, regions, or specific demographics. Instead of manually searching through WHO portals, you can ask your agent to pull precise statistical datasets—like child mortality rates or life expectancy—and get verified data back instantly. ## Overview - **Category:** data-analytics - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** public-health, global-health-indicators, data-research, medical-statistics, policy-auditing, health-trends ## Description This MCP connects your AI client directly to the World Health Organization’s authoritative repository for global health statistics. You stop wading through complex government websites and start asking natural language questions that yield verifiable, structured data. Your agent can pull high-resolution datasets, letting you audit regional trends or compare indicators across different countries without ever touching a web portal. It's built to handle deep research workflows. For instance, your agent can use the WHO Athena API to identify all relevant health metrics, retrieve historical observations for those metrics, and then pass that structured data into another MCP—say, a policy drafting tool—to automatically generate an evidence-based report. This cross-MCP chaining ability is key; you move beyond just finding data to using it immediately in complex automation pipelines. You'll find this runs on Vinkius, which manages the execution environment and ensures your credentials pass through a zero-trust proxy so your keys never sit unprotected on any disk. ## Tools ### get_health_indicator_data Retrieves actual data points for a specific, identified health indicator code. ### list_health_dimensions Lists all metadata fields you can filter by, like 'country' or 'year'. ### list_health_indicators Provides a complete catalog of every possible health metric code available in the database. ### check_api_status Confirms if the WHO GHO Athena service is running and available right now. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Get data for 'Life expectancy at birth' (WHOSIS_000001) using WHO Athena. ``` **Response:** ``` I've retrieved the data for life expectancy! The latest observations show a global average of [Value] years. I can provide the breakdown by country or region metadata for you. ``` **Prompt:** ``` List all health indicators available in the WHO catalog. ``` **Response:** ``` I've scanned the WHO indicator catalog! There are thousands of series available, including markers for infectious diseases, child mortality, and health systems. I can help you find a specific code for your research. ``` **Prompt:** ``` What are the latest observations for 'Child mortality rate'? ``` **Response:** ``` I've retrieved the observations for child mortality! The recent data points indicate a trend of [Value] per 1000 live births. I can assist you with an audit of the comparative metadata across different WHO regions if you'd like. ``` ## Capabilities ### Discover Indicators List every available health metric code in the WHO database so you know exactly what data series exists. ### Define Dimensions See all possible organizational filters, like countries or years, to scope your search correctly. ### Retrieve Health Data Pull high-resolution statistical records for a specific indicator code and defined parameters. ## Use Cases ### Comparing mortality rates across continents A public health analyst needs to compare the child mortality rate from 2015 versus 2023. They use `list_health_indicators` to get the code, then run `get_health_indicator_data`, specifying 'country' and 'year' in the dimensions list to get a clean, comparative table for their report. ### Auditing data source reliability An operations lead needs to know if the WHO API is up before running an expensive job. They first call `check_api_status`. If it fails, they don't waste time on complex queries. ### Finding a niche indicator code A researcher knows they need data for 'Malnutrition prevalence' but doesn't know the code. They use `list_health_indicators` to browse the full catalog until they find the correct, unique identifier. ### Building a multi-platform report An agent uses this MCP to pull global health statistics, then chains that data output into a messaging MCP to automatically draft and send an executive summary email to policy stakeholders. ## Benefits - Stop guessing codes. Use `list_health_indicators` to pull a full catalog of every available metric, guaranteeing you find the exact code for your research. - Get immediate operational visibility using `check_api_status`. You know if the data source is down before your agent starts wasting time on broken calls. - Scope your queries instantly. Use `list_health_dimensions` to see every available filter, like 'year' or 'region', so you never pull irrelevant datasets. - Retrieve complex data without manual steps. Once you have the code and dimensions, `get_health_indicator_data` pulls accurate observations directly into your agent’s context. - Maintain an auditable trail of all calls. Every action generates a cryptographically signed log, giving you proof of exactly what data was accessed and when. ## How It Works The bottom line is: you get verified global health stats without manual searching or spreadsheet cleanup. 1. First, use the API to discover the necessary health metrics or the dimensions (like country codes) required for your research. 2. Next, define the scope. Specify the exact indicator code and the time frame you need data for. 3. Finally, trigger a query to pull the dataset. Your agent gets back structured observations that fit right into your workflow. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How do I check if the WHO Athena API MCP works?** You call `check_api_status`. This simply confirms that the underlying service is operational and available for use right now. **What data does get_health_indicator_data pull?** It pulls actual statistical observations. You give it an indicator code, and it returns the recorded values for that metric across your defined dimensions. **Why do I need to run list_health_indicators first?** You must find the precise indicator code before pulling data. Running `list_health_indicators` gives you the full catalog, preventing guesswork and failed queries. **Can this MCP help me automate a report?** Yes. You can use this MCP to pull raw metrics and then chain that output into another agent or tool—like a messaging MCP—to automatically draft the final policy document. **How do I use `list_health_dimensions` to make sure my query is properly scoped?** It lists all valid observation dimensions, like 'country' or 'year'. Running this tool first helps you structure your data requests and ensures that when you call `get_health_indicator_data`, the output segments correctly. **Do I need to manage API keys or credentials for this WHO Athena MCP?** No. Since the underlying WHO GHO service is free and open, your agent doesn't require an API key. You simply connect through Vinkius, keeping your workflow secure. **What happens if I use a non-existent code with `get_health_indicator_data`?** The MCP will return a specific error message telling you the indicator is invalid. Before querying data, always verify your desired code by running `list_health_indicators` to confirm its status. **Is this MCP limited by rate limits or usage caps?** The platform handles infrastructure updates and manages API calls securely within Vinkius's sandbox. For operational details, you can always check the system health using the `check_api_status` tool. **Is an API Key required for WHO Athena API?** No. The WHO Global Health Observatory API is a free and open service. This server works out of the box without any static credentials required. **What format is the data returned in?** The API returns detailed health indicator data including numeric values, spatial dimensions (countries), and time dimensions (years). **Can I filter by indicator code?** Yes. Use the `get_health_indicator_data` tool and provide the WHO indicator code (e.g., 'WHOSIS_000001' for life expectancy).