WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has begun the next process with one of a series of executive actions he issued on his first day back in the White House. withdraw the United States from world health organization This is the second time in the last five years. Many scientists fear the move could reverse decades of gains in fighting diseases such as AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
Experts have also warned that withdrawing from the organization could weaken the world’s defenses against new outbreaks that could lead to pandemics.
Let’s take a look at what President Trump’s decision means.
what happened?
During his first Oval Office appearance in his second term, President Trump signed an executive order detailing how to begin the withdrawal process.
When Trump was handed his signature, he exclaimed, “Oh!” “That’s huge!”
His move calls for a moratorium on future transfers of U.S. government funding to the organization, the recall and redeployment of federal employees and contractors who work with the WHO, and calls for officials to “ “Identify reliable and transparent U.S. and international partners to undertake the necessary activities previously undertaken.” .
This is not the first time President Trump has attempted to sever ties with the WHO. in July 2020Months after the WHO declared the novel coronavirus disease, pandemic And as infections surge worldwide, the Trump administration formally notified United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that the United States plans to withdraw from the WHO and cut funding to the agency.
president joe biden overturned President Trump’s decision On his first day in office in January 2021, President Trump effectively only reinstated it on his first day back in the White House.
What is WHO? Does it really matter?
It is the United Nations’ specialized health agency tasked with coordinating the world’s response to global health threats, including infectious disease outbreaks. Mpox, ebola hemorrhagic fever and polio. We also provide technical assistance to poor countries. support the distribution of scarce vaccines, It sets guidelines, supplies and treatments for hundreds of health conditions, including mental health and cancer.
“If the United States were to withdraw from the WHO, global health and safety would be significantly compromised,” said Lawrence Gostin, director of the WHO Collaborating Center on Global Health Law at Georgetown University. Losing U.S. resources would be a devastating blow to WHO’s global surveillance and infectious disease control efforts, he said in an email.
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said it was not in the United States’ interest to withdraw from the agency now, especially given the “terrifying proposition” that the spread of bird flu in the country could turn into a pandemic. said.
She described President Trump as a “disruptor” and said the loss of US funding for the WHO would be a “substantial blow” to the agency.
Can President Trump really pull the US out of the WHO?
Yes, as long as he gets Congressional approval and the US meets its financial obligations to the WHO for the current fiscal year. The United States joined the WHO in 1948 through a joint resolution passed by both houses of Congress, which has since been supported by every administration. The resolution calls for a one-year notice period if the United States decides to withdraw from the WHO.
What does this mean for WHO?
Very bad. The United States has historically been one of the largest donors to the WHO, providing not only hundreds of millions of dollars to the UN health agency, but also hundreds of personnel with public health expertise.
Over the past decade, the United States has contributed approximately $160 million to $815 million annually to the WHO. WHO’s annual budget is approximately $2 billion to $3 billion. Losing U.S. funding could cripple numerous global health efforts, including polio eradication efforts, maternal and child health programs, and research to identify emerging viral threats.
U.S. agencies working with the WHO, including the CDC, will also be hit. Leaving the WHO would exclude the United States from efforts coordinated by the WHO, such as determining the annual composition of influenza vaccines and gaining immediate access to the WHO-run genetic database, leading to efforts to produce immunizations and medicines. may be delayed.
Why would President Trump withdraw the US from the WHO?
At a campaign rally in September, Trump said he would “stand up against corruption” at the WHO and other public health agencies, which he claimed were “controlled” by corporate power and China.
Monday’s executive order said the United States is withdrawing from the WHO “because of WHO’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic arising from Wuhan, China, and other global health crises.” It cited WHO’s “failure to adopt urgently needed reforms” and the WHO’s “nonperformance.” “The WHO Member States are unable to demonstrate independence from inappropriate political influence.”
The WHO made several costly mistakes during the pandemic, including advising people to: wearing a mask He also argued that the new coronavirus is not airborne. Agent only officially recognized Last year, we learned that the virus actually spreads through the air.
In its efforts to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, the WHO biggest sexual abuse scandal Over the course of its history, dozens of Congolese women have been sexually harassed and assaulted by medical workers working to contain the Ebola virus, media reports have revealed. The Associated Press reports that senior management informed Sexual abuse occurred in 2019, but little was done to stop it or punish perpetrators.
What does WHO say?
The WHO said in a statement Tuesday that it “regrets” President Trump’s announcement.
“We hope the U.S. will reconsider and look forward to engaging in a constructive dialogue to maintain the U.S.-WHO partnership,” the group said.
“For more than 70 years, WHO and the United States have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats.Together, we will eradicate smallpox and strengthen Together they brought smallpox. polio “We are on the brink of eradication,” the WHO said.
At a Geneva news conference on Tuesday, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said the United States would contribute 18% of the WHO’s budget in 2023, making it the single largest contributor that year. He declined to say what a US withdrawal would mean for the WHO.
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Chen reported from Toronto. Geir Moulson in Berlin and Jamey Ketten in Davos, Switzerland, contributed to this report.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science Education Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. AP is solely responsible for all content.
