President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization, citing corruption and unfair treatment.
This decision is controversial and raises questions about its impact on global health and America’s role in combating epidemics and disease outbreaks.
In a dramatic move during his early hours back in the White House, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Ooh, that’s a big one,” he said as he finalized the move on Monday, a decision that experts warn could reshape the future of global health.
The WHO was established in 1948 and has since been the foundation of international health cooperation, battling Ebola and leading the effort to eradicate smallpox.
It has traditionally received nearly a fifth of its budget from the US. However, Trump accused the organization of corruption and said it favored China, calling it a “corrupt globalist scam.”
The WHO’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is the main target of Trump’s criticism. He criticized what he saw as its inability to hold China responsible, even as he commended its contribution to the security of early viral data.
Trump questioned the financial disparity between US and Chinese donations, saying, “We’re being ripped off.”
Given that WHO is dealing with more than 40 current health emergencies, the withdrawal occurs at a crucial juncture for global health. Experts fear that this may cause a delay in responding to future pandemics and epidemics such as polio and HIV.
Global health leaders stressed that cooperation, not withdrawal, is the key to protecting global health, even as WHO expressed sadness over the decision. The issue still stands: What will this entail for the fight against global illness as the United States starts its year-long withdrawal process?
