The President of the USA Donald Trump has announced that he will be pressing ahead with previous threats to withdraw from the World Health Organization. This move will see America channel funds towards other health organisations. This is an unprecedented move that looks set to not only to change the course of the global coronavirus response, but to change the governance of public health crises for ever.
President Trump has repeatedly criticised the World Health Organisation for failing to quickly alert the world to the coronavirus and has accused the WHO of helping China cover up its origins and effects.
President Trump’s announcement has been criticised by some health experts, who claimed that the timing of this is inappropriate during a crisis that has already killed more than 360,000 people and infected nearly 6 million. But the move has been applauded by Trump supporters who are deeply distrustful of the organisation.
Only last month Trump temporarily froze U.S funding to the WHO ans announced that his administration was reviewing US membership. Prior to this the U.S has previously contributed over $400 million per year to WHO’s $4.8 billion annual budget which is more than any other country.
A senior official within the Trump administration official has affirmed that Trump is absolutely committed to withdrawing from WHO. The official has said : “None of us in the administration is under the assumption that this is temporary or will be reversed. This is a fundamental repudiation of the WHO and its failed mission”.
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Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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