The World Health Organization (WHO) has once again appealed to the United States to rethink its choice to exit the U.N. health organisation, cautioning about possible effects on worldwide health and financial matters.
At an executive board meeting on Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told those present that the health organisation is disappointed by the U.S. decision and expressed hope that Washington will reconsider.
“We would welcome constructive dialogue to preserve and strengthen the historic relationship between WHO and the USA that helped bring significant impacts like the eradication of smallpox,” he stated.
Two weeks prior, President Donald Trump formalised his intention to withdraw the U.S. from the WHO through an executive order. According to WHO’s financial data, the U.S. contributed an estimated $988 million between January and November 2024, which is about 14% of WHO’s $6.9 billion budget.
According to a document obtained by The Associated Press that was presented at a WHO budget meeting the previous week, funding from the U.S. “provides the backbone of many of WHO’s large-scale emergency operations.”
This funding has been used to fight disease around the world. For instance, funding from the U.S. covers 95% of the WHO’s initiatives for tuberculosis in Europe, in addition to 60% of the agency’s efforts regarding TB in Africa, the Western Pacific, and its headquarters in Geneva.
Furthermore, the document stated that the WHO’s responses in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan, along with its initiatives to eradicate polio and combat HIV, were at risk as a result of the U.S. withdrawal.
President Trump’s executive order mentioned four main justifications for Washington’s withdrawal. It stated that the WHO mishandled international health projects, including COVID-19, and neglected to put reform initiatives into practice.
It also stated that the WHO failed to “demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states” and “continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States, far out of proportion with other countries’ assessed payments.”
Dr. Tedros, in his appeal for the U.S. to reevaluate its stance, asserted that the WHO has carried out its most profound and extensive reforms over the previous seven years. He highlighted that those reforms have “touched every part of our work: our strategy, operating model, processes, partnerships, financing, workforce and culture.”
In the health agency’s defense, he added that the WHO has implemented reforms focused on addressing financing imbalances, responded appropriately to the COVID-19 crisis, and has been impartial in existing to serve the needs of all countries and peoples.