Erhuvwu Etarhienyo
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern following the United States’ decision to withdraw and has urged the country to reconsider its stance.
On Monday, President Donald Trump announced that the US would be pulling out of the WHO, criticizing the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, China, as well as its management of other global health crises.
In his announcement, Trump also condemned the WHO for failing to implement necessary reforms and for succumbing to political influence from member states. These issues, he argued, were key reasons behind the US withdrawal.
In response, the WHO encouraged the United States to reconsider its decision and engage in constructive dialogue to preserve the longstanding partnership between the two.
“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,” the WHO said in a statement on its official X handle Tuesday.
The WHO emphasized its critical role in protecting global health, stating that it works to address the root causes of diseases, strengthen health systems, and respond to health emergencies, even in dangerous regions where others cannot operate.
Since its founding in 1948, the United States has been a key member of the WHO, shaping and overseeing the organization’s work alongside 193 other member states. Over the past seven decades, the US and the WHO have collaborated on initiatives to save millions of lives, benefiting not only Americans but people worldwide.
The WHO highlighted that, together, they eradicated smallpox and brought polio to the brink of elimination. American institutions have also greatly contributed to and benefitted from WHO membership.
“In the past seven years, with the participation of the United States and other member states, the WHO has implemented the largest set of reforms in its history, improving accountability, cost-effectiveness, and impact on the ground,” the WHO stated, noting that this work continues.
Trump, however, accused the WHO of failing to operate independently from the “inappropriate political influence” of its member states. He also criticized the organization for demanding “unfairly onerous payments” from the United States, arguing that these contributions were disproportionate when compared to those from other, larger countries such as China.
“World Health ripped us off, everybody rips off the United States. It’s not going to happen anymore,” Trump remarked at the signing of an executive order on withdrawal, shortly after his inauguration for a second term.
The United States is the WHO’s largest donor, contributing approximately 18 per cent of the organization’s total funding. The WHO’s two-year budget for 2024-2025 is set at $6.8 billion.
