The World Health Organization (WHO) Chief has urged global leaders to push the United States to reverse President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the agency. Last week, internal documents revealed that WHO is heavily reliant on U.S. funding, with the U.S. contributing up to 40% of the budget for WHO’s health emergencies program.
The U.S. also covers a significant portion of WHO’s tuberculosis work in various regions, according to the documents. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has emphasized the importance of bringing the U.S. back into the fold, citing the critical information and outbreak details that the U.S. would miss out on without WHO’s support.
While some experts see the U.S. departure as an opportunity to reshape global public health, others warn that it could lead to worse health outcomes for Americans. WHO officials have expressed concerns about the impact of the U.S. exit, with the agency facing potential budget cuts and program reductions.
Despite attempts to withdraw funds from the U.S. for past expenses, WHO has struggled to make progress in this regard. The agency’s executive board is expected to discuss these budget matters during their upcoming session.
In the face of these challenges, WHO is calling on member countries to lobby on its behalf to persuade the U.S. to reconsider its decision. The U.S. withdrawal from WHO has been described as one of the most extensive crises the agency has faced in recent decades, with questions raised about the specific functions and programs that would be affected by the loss of U.S. funding.
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