InfoSearched
Published -
- April 15, 2020
- 3:59 am
Apr.14 — President Donald Trump says he instructed his administration to temporarily halt funding to the World Health Organization for taking China’s claims about the coronavirus “at face value” and failing to share information about the pandemic as it spread.
Trump speaks at a White House press conference.
How will the United States’ decision to cease funding for the WHO impact its ability to respond to COVID-19 in low-income countries?
On April 14th, 2020, President Donald Trump announced that he would be halting payments to the World Health Organization (WHO). The decision followed days of criticism from the president and his administration over the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the early stages of the outbreak in Wuhan, China.
The president has accused the WHO of being too “China-centric” and of not acting quickly enough to contain the spread of the coronavirus. He has also criticized the organization for advising against travel restrictions and for allegedly downplaying the severity of the pandemic in its early stages.
As a result of President Trump’s decision, the United States’ largest contributor to the WHO will cease funding for the organization. This will have significant impacts on the WHO’s ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in low-income countries.
The WHO is the United Nations’ leading health agency and plays a critical role in global health. The organization provides technical support to countries, particularly those with limited resources, and works to prevent and respond to outbreaks of infectious diseases.
The WHO also coordinates international efforts to combat pandemics, including the current COVID-19 outbreak. It has provided critical guidance on how to prevent the spread of the virus and has helped develop testing kits and treatments.
President Trump’s decision has been met with widespread criticism from public health officials and organizations across the globe. They argue that now is not the time to downgrade the WHO’s funding, particularly when the world is facing a global pandemic.
Many believe that the WHO needs to be fully supported in its efforts to combat COVID-19, as it is only the beginning of a potential wave of subsequent pandemics. To date, the virus has spread to over 200 countries or territories and has infected over two million people globally.
While some criticize the WHO’s initial response to the coronavirus outbreak, it must be remembered that the organization cannot act outside of the information that it is given by its member states. Moreover, the organization sounded the alarm regarding COVID-19 very early on and advised countries to prepare for its arrival.
In conclusion, President Trump’s decision to halt payments to the WHO at this critical moment in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic is a significant blow to global health. Now more than ever, the world needs the WHO’s support to help contain the spread of the virus and to develop treatments and vaccines. Therefore, the international community, including the United States, must continue to work together and provide the necessary resources to combat this global crisis.
