Photo caption: US President Donald Trump
The World Health Organisation, on Tuesday, expressed regrets over President Donald Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the WHO.
In a statement on its official X handle on Tuesday, the WHO noted the US crucial role in the world health body and expressed the hope that Trump would rescind his decision.
Trump, who was inaugurated on Monday as the 47th US President, signed a slew of far-reaching executive orders, including one terminating the US membership of the WHO.
Reacting to Trump’s decision, the WHO, in the statement on X, said, “The United States was a founding member of WHO in 1948 and has participated in shaping and governing WHO’s work ever since, alongside 193 other member states, including through its active participation in the World Health Assembly and Executive Board.
“For over seven decades, WHO and the USA have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats. Together, we ended smallpox, and together we have brought polio to the brink of eradication. American institutions have contributed to and benefited from membership in WHO.
“With the participation of the United States and other member states, WHO has over the past seven years implemented the largest set of reforms in its history, to transform our accountability, cost-effectiveness, and impact in countries. This work continues.
“We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe.”
Speaking at the White House hours after his inauguration on Monday, Trump had said the United States was paying far more to the UN body compared to China, remarking “World Health ripped us off.”
During Trump’s first term, the United States issued a notice of intent to withdraw, accusing WHO of being overly influenced by China during the COVID-19 pandemic’s early stages.
The move was, however, reversed under former President Joe Biden’s administration.
In his new executive order, Trump directed agencies to “pause the future transfer of any United States Government funds, support, or resources to the WHO” and to “identify credible and transparent United States and international partners to assume necessary activities previously undertaken by the WHO.”
The administration also announced plans to review and rescind Biden’s 2024 US Global Health Security Strategy, which was designed to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats, “as soon as practicable.”
