Public health : WHO reacts to US withdrawal announced by Donald Trump

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Public health : WHO reacts to US withdrawal announced by Donald Trump

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed regret at President Donald Trump’s announcement that the United States intends to withdraw from the organization. WHO has emphasized its critical role in protecting the health and safety of people around the world, including Americans, by addressing the root causes of disease and strengthening health systems.

 

As a founding member of WHO since 1948, the United States has played a key role in shaping global health policies, contributing to major successes such as the eradication of smallpox and the fight against polio. WHO recalls that over the past seven years, the organization has implemented significant reforms aimed at strengthening its accountability and effectiveness. In this context, WHO hopes that the United States will reconsider its decision and looks forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to preserve our partnership.

The decision to withdraw is not without controversy. Indeed, Donald Trump has long criticized the WHO, accusing the organization of mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic and failing to implement needed reforms. In his executive order on Monday, he cited reasons including inappropriate political influence by member states and expressed his belief that the United States was contributing disproportionately to the WHO budget.

Reaction to the announcement has been fierce. Public health experts, including Dr. Ashish Jha, a former COVID-19 response coordinator in the Biden administration, have called the withdrawal a “strategic mistake.” Jha warned that the move would create a political vacuum, potentially filled by China, giving that country greater influence over global health.

Lawrence Gostin, a professor of public health law at Georgetown University, called the withdrawal “cataclysmic,” noting that it would be a grave injury to global health and to the United States itself. He also noted that Trump’s action may be illegal and riddled with legal errors.

Despite the tensions, it is important to note that the US withdrawal from the WHO takes one year, and the country is still required to fund the organization during this period. It remains to be seen how this situation will evolve and what the long-term consequences will be for global health and international cooperation.

Mireille Siapje