On July 6, 2020, the United States officially withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO), a move that has been met with widespread criticism from experts and global health organizations.
The WHO is a United Nations agency responsible for international public health. It was founded in 1948 and has 194 member states. The WHO's mission is to ensure that everyone has access to the highest possible level of health.
The US has been a member of the WHO since its inception. However, in recent years, the US has become increasingly critical of the organization. In 2017, the Trump administration announced that it would withhold funding from the WHO until the organization made reforms.
The Trump administration has cited a number of reasons for withdrawing from the WHO, including:
- The WHO's alleged bias towards China.
- The WHO's alleged mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The WHO's alleged waste of US taxpayer money.
The US withdrawal from the WHO is likely to have a significant impact on global health. The WHO is the leading international organization responsible for coordinating the global response to health emergencies. Without the US, the WHO will be less able to respond effectively to future pandemics.
In addition, the US withdrawal could lead to a decrease in global health funding. The US is one of the largest donors to the WHO, and its withdrawal could lead to a decrease in funding for essential health programs.
There are a number of different perspectives on the US withdrawal from the WHO. Some experts believe that the withdrawal is a mistake that will harm global health. Others believe that the withdrawal is necessary to reform the WHO.
Those who believe that the withdrawal is a mistake argue that the WHO is an essential organization that plays a vital role in global health. They point out that the WHO has been successful in eradicating smallpox and polio, and that it is currently working to combat a number of other diseases, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Those who believe that the withdrawal is necessary argue that the WHO is in need of reform. They point to the fact that the WHO has been criticized for being too bureaucratic and too slow to respond to health emergencies.
The US withdrawal from the WHO is a significant event with far-reaching implications for global health. It is too early to say what the full impact of the withdrawal will be, but it is clear that the WHO will be less able to respond effectively to future pandemics without the US.
It is important to note that there are a number of different perspectives on the US withdrawal from the WHO. Some experts believe that the withdrawal is a mistake that will harm global health. Others believe that the withdrawal is necessary to reform the WHO.
It is also important to note that the US withdrawal from the WHO is part of a larger trend of US disengagement from international organizations. In recent years, the US has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Iran nuclear deal, and the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The US withdrawal from the WHO is a significant event that raises important questions about the future of global health and the US role in the world.