By Antynet Ford
The World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus has called on the United States to reconsider President Donald Trump’s withdrawal order.
US President Donald Trump has been wooed by the World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus to reconsider the country’s withdrawal.
In a statement hours after Trump was sworn in and declared withdrawal from the organization, Ghebreyesus highlighted how WHO had benefited from the partnership between the US and the WHO.
“The World Health Organization regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the Organisation,” he said.
The DG said WHO plays a crucial role in protecting the health and security of the world’s people, including Americans, by addressing the root causes of disease, building stronger health systems, and detecting, preventing, and responding to health emergencies, including disease outbreaks, often in dangerous places where others cannot go.
Ghebreyesus said the US was a founding member of WHO in 1948 and has participated in shaping and governing WHO’s work ever since.
The director said together, they were able to end smallpox and bring polio to the brink of eradication.
“American institutions have contributed to and benefited from membership in WHO,” he said.
According to Ghebreyesus, the participation of the United US and other Member States WHO has over the past seven years implemented the largest set of reforms in its history adding that the work continues.
“We look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and the WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe,” he said.
After his swearing-in Ceremony yesterday, the US President signed an Executive Order to begin the process of withdrawing the US from the WHO.
This comes after he previously criticized how WHO handled COVID-19 and began the process of pulling out from the Geneva-based institution.
The immediate former US president Joe Biden later reversed the process.