Donald Trump’s decision to pull funding from the World Health Organization during a pandemic is being criticized worldwide. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, reacted today during a briefing saying Trump’s actions won’t deter them:
“Since the beginning, WHO has been fighting the #COVID19 pandemic with every ounce of our soul and spirit. We will continue to do that until the end”
Billionaire Bill Gates summed up what many people were thinking on Twitter.
And we think it’s important to read this statement, in full, from the UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
The World Health Organization, with thousands of its staff, is on the front lines, supporting Member States and their societies, especially the most vulnerable among them, with guidance, training, equipment and concrete life-saving services as they fight the virus.
It is my belief that the World Health Organization must be supported, as it is absolutely critical to the world’s efforts to win the war against COVID-19.
This virus is unprecedented in our lifetime and requires an unprecedented response. Obviously, in such conditions, it is possible that the same facts have had different readings by different entities. Once we have finally turned the page on this epidemic, there must be a time to look back fully to understand how such a disease emerged and spread its devastation so quickly across the globe, and how all those involved reacted to the crisis. The lessons learned will be essential to effectively address similar challenges, as they may arise in the future.
But now is not that time.
As it is not that time, it is also not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus.
As I have said before, now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences.
Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the CDC also seems to signaling he doesn’t back the president’s decision. He told ABC News, “The CDC and WHO has had a long history of working together in multiple outbreaks throughout the world, as we continue to do with this one. We’ve had a very productive public health relationship. We continue to have that.”
American Medical Association president Patrice Harris adds:
“During the worst public health crisis in a century, halting funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) is a dangerous step in the wrong direction that will not make defeating COVID-19 easier. Fighting a global pandemic requires international cooperation and reliance on science and data. Cutting funding to the WHO – rather than focusing on solutions – is a dangerous move at a precarious moment for the world. The AMA is deeply concerned by this decision and its wide-ranging ramifications, and we strongly urge the President to reconsider.”
In the meantime, Bloomberg points out:
It’s unclear when any halt in payments would take effect or how much authority Trump has to suspend disbursements, which are authorized by Congress. The U.S. has contributed $893 million to the WHO’s operations during its current two-year funding cycle, according to the organization. Administration officials signaled the suspension would be for 60 days.
In the meantime, Dr. Tedros says:
“WHO is reviewing the impact on our work of any withdrawal of US funding and will work with our partners to fill any financial gaps we face and to ensure our work continues uninterrupted.”
