WHEN US President Donald Trump won his second presidential term in the US elections last year, officials of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva already had an inkling of what will happen next.
This is because Trump had been overly critical of the WHO during the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, to the point of saying the money being remitted by the United States to this institution is lost to unproductive activities of doubtful importance.
In his first term as president, Trump formally began the US withdrawal from the United Nations health agency. This was in July 2020 at the height of the pandemic. However, his successor President Joseph Biden countermanded the order of withdrawal.
Trump’s justification for his withdrawal from the WHO this time around reeks of his anti-China stance, which was also evident in his other current policies such as tariffs, fentanyl, climate change and global warming, trade imbalance, immigration, etc.
‘… the WHO and the United States, together with 193 other member states, have had many scientific victories over diseases across the globe.”
He cited the “organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states.”
The US is scheduled to leave WHO in January next year. On Saturday, Trump said says he may consider rejoining the organization.
The WHO has said it regrets Trump’s exit announcement, and noted the health institution 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.
With his misplaced fixation with China, President Trump put little value to the fact that the WHO and the United States, together with 193 other member states, have had many scientific victories over diseases across the globe.
The UN health officials recalled that for seven decades, the WHO and the US have saved countless lives and protected both Americans, Chinese, and other races from health threats.
“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,” it said.
With the inevitability of the US withdrawal, it is wise and practical for WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to review their priorities and implement measures such as freezing new recruitment of staff, cutting back on travel expenditures, etc.
Tedros said all meetings must be fully virtual by default unless exceptional approval is sought and granted, adding technical support missions should be limited to the most essential.
He admitted that with the US withdrawal, their financial situation has been made more acute, and it has created significant concern and uncertainty for the WHO workforce.
Tedros stressed that the UN health agency hoped the new administration would reconsider its decision, noting they were open to dialogue on preserving the relationship.
Like him, we are concerned about the coming financial and logistical constraints the WHO will face in performing its health intelligence functions, such as identifying outbreaks of diseases, timely warnings, and providing solutions.
The next global pandemic might just convince Donald Trump of his folly.
