Funding WHO a wise investment

President Trump’s decision to cut off financial support for the World Health Organization during the worst pandemic in a century takes a head-in-the sand approach. The global community will have time to complete an evaluation of what worked, and what did not, after the pandemic is under control. The decision to discontinue U.S. funding WHO while the world is struggling with the COVID-19 virus is misguided and will hinder global efforts to battle this debilitating pandemic. The work of WHO is indispensable to stop the spread of disease, promote health and well-being globally and share data, tools, strategies and solutions to alleviate the coronavirus’ impact.

Emerging from the devastation of World War II, the United Nations recognized the need for a global health organization.

The WHO was established in 1948 and for the last 72 years it has provided international cooperation among governments, scientific and health care communities.

Key achievements of WHO’s global leadership include eradication of smallpox, elimination of polio, the global fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the global response to the SARS (Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic, as well as combating many other major infectious diseases.

They also led efforts to significantly reduce mortality among infants and young children, increase access to safe water and sanitation, advance tobacco control and much more.

Now, with the COVID-19 virus killing over 65,00 people in the United States and 239,000 globally and with over 1.1 million cases in the US and almost 3.4 million cases globally, we need to recognize that health is a fundamental human right. We need to support national and international efforts to provide access to quality health care both in the U.S. and around the world.

WHO describes its job as “the global guardian of health.” Its two-year budget of $4.8 billion to carry out its programs is comparable to that of a large U.S. hospital and equivalent to only 25% of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s budget. Furthermore, as of March 31, the U.S. government currently owes $198.3 million in membership dues, for this and prior years.

WHO is seeing an outpouring of solidarity in support of their COVID-19 Response Fund with financial support coming from countries, corporations, organizations, foundations and even individuals to help to fight this deadly disease.

We have made many mistakes responding to the coronavirus. In time there will be a full accounting. President Trump was told on numerous occasions in early January that the U.S. could face a major deadly virus and there is substantial video documentation to show how long he dismissed or minimized concerns. However, Trump never accepts responsibility for his mistakes. Looking to blame another country for his lack of leadership is not the kind of leadership we expect from our president.

President Trump’s actions have resulted in countless lives lost.

Diseases and epidemics do not need passports or visas. We are one planet, one system, one world and the WHO supports our collective health and well-being. President Trump will not be able to build a wall around the U.S. He needs to understand that we are all connected.

Richard L. Wittenberg is the former President and CEO of the American Association for World Health and the current President and CEO of Adolescents and Children Together for Health. E-address: [email protected].