There are strong indications that Nigeria and other developing countries’ health sector, particularly primary healthcare subsector, may suffer significant funding shortfalls in the years ahead with the pulling out of the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) by President Donald Trump on assumption of office yesterday.
Over the years, the WHO has been supporting Nigeria and other developing countries, especially in Africa, with funding and other technical assistances in their health services to address challenges of communicable diseases, malnutrition among children, and other health risks.
Curiously on Monday, Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing the organization’s mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic and its failure to adopt necessary reforms as the reason for the order.
Trump had earlier in 2021 attempted to withdraw the US from the WHO but the attempt was reversed by President Joe Biden.
Health experts believe that the US withdrawal from the WHO, one of the most humanity-friendly organisations globally, is expected to result in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for the global health system and disrupt health programmes of low income and middle income countries.
Speaking at the White House a few hours after his inauguration, the US President said his country was paying far more to the UN body compared to China, lamenting that “World Health ripped us off.”
The US has been the largest donor to the Geneva-based organization, providing huge financial support that is crucial to the WHO’s operations.
In his new executive order, Trump directed agencies to “pause the future transfer of any United States Government funds, support, or resources to the WHO” and to “identify credible and transparent United States and international partners to assume necessary activities previously undertaken by the WHO.”
The administration also announced plans to review and rescind Biden’s 2024 US Global Health Security Strategy, which was designed to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats, “as soon as practicable.”
It would be recalled that during his first tenure, the US government issued a notice of intent to withdraw from the global health organisation, accusing the organization of being overly influenced by China during the pandemic’s early stages.
The timing of the US withdrawal with the Executive Order signed by Trump yesterday came amid mounting concerns over the pandemic potential of the current bird flu outbreak (H5N1), which has infected several people and claimed one life in the United States.
Meanwhile, WHO member-states have commenced negotiations on the world’s first treaty on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response since late 2021, the discussions now could face some hitches with the withdrawal of the US.
