Implications of US withdrawal from World Health Organisation

– World Health Organisation (WHO) is a UN agency currently with 194 member countries subscribing to it

– It is an authority charged with researching, directing and coordinating matters pertaining to international health

– US President Donald Trump issued a notice to withdraw from the body after accusing it of favouring China and not being thorough in fighting coronavirus

– If the withdrawal is approved, the US will cease being a member of the health agency from July 2021

US President Donald Trump has finally made good his threat to part ways with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Trump accused the health agency of favouring China and doing little to immediately contain the coronavirus pandemic when it first broke out in China in late 2019.

So what?

This is the question many of us have been asking after the move by Trump’s administration attracted the attention of almost all global media outlets.

With a membership of 194 countries, WHO has since its establishment in April 1948 poised itself as a trusted source of health information.

Some countries, especially third-world nations, to some extent, even consider it as an extension of their health ministries.

The US on its part has been playing a pivotal role in the development of the UN agency and apart from contributing expertise, equipment and funding, the Trump-led country has also been using WHO to protect its interests on health matters.

Though it is not yet clear how the withdrawal of US from WHO will affect operations of both parties, it is evident from the relationship the duo had bred, that they both stand to lose something.

1. Funding

By the US slamming the brakes on its association with WHO, it means it will cease making annual contributions to the body.

Currently, the US is the biggest donor to WHO with is contributions reflecting between 15%-20% of the agency’s budget.

Withdrawal of the funds may drive WHO into a funding crisis and may not be able to finance some of its projects in various member countries.

This may deal a blow to the fight against the fast-spreading COVID-19 pandemic, HIV/AIDS, polio and tuberculosis.

WHO with the support of the US has always been taking centre stage in fighting the diseases in most countries, Kenya included.

2. Members may raise contributions

In order for the funding gap that may be left by US not to be felt, WHO may rallies members to increase their contributions.

Shortly after Trump announced he was going to cut links with WHO, China pledged an additional KSh 30 billion.

Beijing also said it will contribute KSh 200 billion more which WHO will use to fight the scourge over the next two years.

European countries have also upped their contributions to the WHO kitty.

3. Staffing crisis

It is shared knowledge that some of the top brass at WHO are US citizens.

With this in mind, the questions that now comes to the fore is whether or not WHO will still want to retain US citizens in its ranks yet their country is not a member of the body.

Will the US administration allow its citizens to work for a body it divorced? If the answer is no, then it means the likes of Maria DeJoseph Van Kerkhove, a senior American epidemiologist at WHO, may be compelled to pack and leave.

This will deny WHO access to some of the top medical expert the US has and even technical support.

4. Health services support

Despite Trump indicating that money US pumped into WHO will now be channelled to other US-owned projects, it may take decades before the agencies that will be charged with filling the gap to achieve the same level of confidence and trust citizens have in WHO.

Being a globally recognised body, will the US administration give American agencies a nod to work with WHO, for instance sharing knowledge and expertise?

And if the agencies spread their wings and seek to extend their services to other parts of the world, will they be trusted the way WHO has been trusted?

According to Joe Biden, one of the presidential aspirants in November 3, 2020, General Election, the US is only safe if it was at the top table where global health matters were being discussed.

“Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as President, I will rejoin the WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage,” said Biden when he poked holes in Trumps decision to ditch WHO.

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