"WHO Chief Counters Trump Criticisms Behind US Pullout from Global Health Agency

WHO Chief Counters Trump Criticisms Behind US Pullout from Global Health Agency

As the World Health Organization (WHO) executive board meeting convened in Geneva, Switzerland, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus took to the podium to address US President Donald Trump's criticisms behind the United States' withdrawal from the agency. In a strongly worded address, Tedros rejected Trump's assertions and urged Washington to reconsider its decision.

The US pullout will leave a significant gap in the WHO's budget and global public health response capabilities. As the organization's biggest donor, the United States contributed $1.3 billion to the WHO's 2022-23 budget, representing 16.3% of the total. The impact of this withdrawal will be far-reaching, potentially disrupting global efforts to combat pandemics and health crises.

Reality Check Reforms and Payments

Tedros refuted Trump's claim that the WHO had failed to adopt urgently needed reforms. In fact, over the past seven years, the organization has implemented the deepest and most wide-ranging reforms in its history. The WHO chief emphasized the need to broaden its donor base, shifting the balance away from voluntary contributions towards regular membership fees.

This shift is crucial in addressing the over-reliance on major donors. As the organization continues to evolve, it's essential to create a more sustainable funding model that ensures the WHO can respond effectively to global health threats.

A Global Challenge Covid-19

In response to Trump's criticism of the WHO's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, Tedros highlighted the swift action taken by the agency from the early stages of the outbreak. The WHO alerted the world, published guidance, and protected populations, demonstrating its critical role in global health crisis management.

While acknowledging that there were challenges along the way, Tedros emphasized the steps taken to address these issues and create new entities to improve the response, such as the Pandemic Fund and mRNA Technology Transfer Hub. The new pandemic agreement being negotiated among WHO member states will also strengthen global preparedness.

Independence and Neutrality

Tedros rejected Trump's claim that the WHO lacks independence from political influence. The organization is impartial and committed to serving all countries, even when they make demands that are not supported by scientific evidence. As Tedros said, When we say no, politely, it's because we're guided by science.

A Domino Effect?

In response to Tedros' address, Israel's board member Asher Salmon expressed concerns about the potential domino effect of other countries losing interest in the WHO following the US withdrawal. France's representative Gregory Emery emphasized the need for a strong, legitimate, and effective WHO more than ever, as crises reshape the world.

China's representative called for increased transparency and accountability within the organization. As the WHO executive board meeting continues, it is crucial that member states find a pathway to address these concerns and prevent further damage from the US pullout.

In conclusion, the WHO chief has spoken out against Trump's criticisms, urging Washington to reconsider its decision and emphasizing the importance of global cooperation in addressing public health threats.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.