WHO expresses regret over US withdrawal from global health concerns on Trump’s fiat
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Withdrawing the United States from global health concerns is of deep regret, says the World Health Organisation (WHO), warning it may weaken global health efforts to which America has been a major financial contributor.
Donald Trump announced the withdrawal as one of his major decisions after his return to the White House as President in order to placate his Republican Right-wing base push as well as his own personal desire for the US to pull back from multilateralism in favour of isolationism.
The WHO on Tuesday expressed deep regret over Trump’s executive order to withdraw the US from the global health body, an announcement that has sparked widespread concern about the implications for international health efforts.
The US has played a pivotal role in funding and shaping WHO’s work since its inception in 1948.
WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic confirmed the organisation’s disappointment, saying, “The World Health Organization regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the organisation.”
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus echoed the sentiment in an official statement, emphasising the importance of the partnership between the US and WHO over the decades.
“Together, we ended smallpox and brought polio to the brink of eradication,” the statement noted.
Tedros also highlighted the organisation’s critical role in addressing global health emergencies, often in challenging environments, and urged the US to reconsider its decision.
The US has been the WHO’s largest financial contributor, providing substantial resources for programs combating infectious diseases, strengthening health systems, and responding to health crises worldwide.
The withdrawal could severely disrupt these efforts and weaken global preparedness against pandemics, writes The Times Of India (TOI).
Danger warning from within US
Tom Frieden, a former senior health official under President Barack Obama, warned that the move undermines global safety. “We cannot make WHO more effective by walking away from it,” he wrote on X.
Georgetown University’s Lawrence Gostin cautioned that losing access to WHO’s epidemic surveillance data could jeopardize U.S. security and innovation in addressing health threats.
The Times of India adds that the timing of the withdrawal raises additional concerns, as it coincides with negotiations for the world’s first treaty on pandemic preparedness and prevention – a process now set to proceed without US participation.
China pledges continued support for WHO
In its reaction, China pledged continued support for WHO, with foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun asserting that “The role of WHO should only be strengthened, not weakened.”
The statement reflects Beijing’s intent to fill the vacuum left by America’s departure.
Trump’s executive order also directs US agencies to halt funding to WHO and explore alternative global health partnerships.
The move reverses the 2024 Global Health Security Strategy enacted under President Joe Biden, which prioritised coordinated responses to infectious disease threats.
However, the WHO remains hopeful that the US will reconsider its position.
“We hope the United States will reconsider. We look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership,” Tedros enthused, stressing the shared goal of safeguarding global health.
Read also:
World Bank debars two Nigerian firms, CEO over fraud in poverty alleviation scheme
