The World Health Organization has reacted to President Donald Trump’s choice to pull the United States out of the UN-affiliated health organization.
“The World Health Organisation regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the Organisation,” Director-General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote in a post.
“We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe,” he said.
On January 21, Trump signed an executive order about the United States terminating its World Health Organisation membership, with the global health agency losing its biggest financial contributor.
In response, WHO said that it plays a crucial role in protecting the health and security of the world’s people, including Americans, by addressing the root causes of disease, building stronger health systems, and detecting, preventing and responding to health emergencies, including disease outbreaks, often in dangerous places where others cannot go.
“The United States was a founding member of WHO in 1948 and has participated in shaping and governing WHO’s work ever since, alongside 193 other Member States, including through its active participation in the World Health Assembly and Executive Board,” the statement read.
Adding that since WHO and the US “saved countless lives and protected Americans” and all people from health threats for seven decades, the health body hopes US would “reconsider” the decision.
“Together, we ended smallpox, and together we have brought polio to the brink of eradication. American institutions have contributed to and benefited from membership in WHO,” the health body wrote.
Trump’s withdrawal of the US from the WHO dates back to his initial presidential term, a time when he lambasted the health organization for its sluggish response and accused it of being “owned and controlled by China” amid the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
This decision carries substantial repercussions, particularly given that the US has been responsible for approximately 18% of the WHO’s total funding. The ramifications will extend beyond the WHO itself, likely affecting the healthcare system within the United States as well.
Read the full statement from the body below:
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