WHO expresses regret over Trump’s withdrawal of funding

The World Health Organization has expressed regret over the decision of the U.S president to withdraw from funding the body as the organization battles Covid-19.

This was disclosed on Wednesday April 15, 2020 by WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom.

According to him, the organization would review the impact such withdrawal would have on its operations and would find alternatives to fill the vacuum.

“The United States has been a longstanding and generous friend to WHO, and we hope it will continue to be so. We regret the decision of the U.S. President to order a halt in funding to WHO,” Tedros said.

Tedros further added that this is the time for all countries to unite and fight a global pandemic.

“This is a time for all of us to be united in our common struggle against a global threat. When we are divided, the coronavirus exploits the cracks between us,” he added.

Adhanom also took time to alert the world that the organization does not discriminate among nations and that it is not only fighting Covid-19 but other diseases too.

“WHO is not only fighting COVID-19. We’re also working to address polio, measles, malaria, Ebola, HIV, tuberculosis, malnutrition, cancer, diabetes, mental health and many other diseases and conditions,” he said

Mr Trump, on Tuesday disclosed that his administration would halt funding the World Health Organization because it has failed in its basic duty.
“I am directing my administration to halt funding while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization’s role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus,” Mr Trump said at a news conference on Tuesday.

While condemning Trump’s decision, Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, said that this is not the right time to cut funding to WHO or any other humanitarian organization as the battle against coronavirus rages on.

“It is 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,” Guterres said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most dangerous challenges this world has faced in our lifetime. It is above all a human crisis with severe health and socio-economic consequences,” he added.