Image above – Left to right: Dr. Tedros Adhamon Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General receiving US$5m from Ambassador Vaqif Sadiqov, Azerbaijan’s representative to UN, on March 13, 2020 to support WHO’s efforts to combat Covid-19.
“When we are divided, the virus exploits the cracks between us” – Dr. Ghebreyesus
Updated April 19, 2020 | 20:00
There was an shattering global outcry when the United States (US) President Donald Trump pulled the plug on funding WHO for allegedly “mismanaging” the Covid-19 pandemic.
The White House’s move to cut off financial aid to WHO is quite ironic as other countries of the world ramp up funds to help the organization to beat down the lethal virus.
Since the US President’s decision, there has been a rich worldwide rallying support around the World Health Organization and its Director-General, Dr. Ghebreyesus. WHO regretted the US action to pause the finance to the organization. In the meantime, the 72-year-old United Nations special agency said it is reviewing to assess the impact and work with other partners to fill the financial gap.
Increased contributions for Covid-19
American billionaire Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, slammed Trump’s regressive strategy to withdraw finances at the height of a global pandemic. Reuters quoted him on Wednesday April 15 remarking that:
“De-funding the WHO makes absolutely no sense during a pandemic. We need a global coordinated response.”
To walk the talk, the Gates Foundation increased its funding to WHO by “$150 million” to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic to “$250 million”, reported Reuters.
On April 16, Irish Central wrote:
“Ireland is set to quadruple its annual contribution to the World Health Organization this year to €9.5 million.”
Turning off the funds tap
The White House Twitter account @WhiteHouse posted that:
“President @realDonaldTrump is halting funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess WHO’s role in mismanaging the Coronavirus outbreak. https://t.co/jTrEf4WWj0“
Interviewed on Talk Radio 702, Wits University Prof. John Stremlau opined that it is not clear whether the freeze by the United States is immediate or will continue pending the investigation.
China hits back at Trump. It said halting of funds by the US will weaken WHO as an institution and affect many countries in the world.
Surprisingly, Donald Trump did praise the handling of Covid-19 by China in January; WHO as well lauded the Chinese response to the pandemic.
The chart above was posted on April 15, 2020 by Pien Huang of NPR: The U.S. government pledged $893 million to WHO’s budget in 2018 and 2019.
The US is WHO major funder. Trump proffered estimates to the order of “$400 million to $500 million” annually. On the other hand, according to Irish Central, China’s funding amounts to “roughly $40 million per year and even less”.
Trump slammed
Trump has been widely critized for his sloppy response to Covid-19 outbreak in the US. His brash jibes of labeling coronavirus a “hoax” that is “under control” and will dissipate when the season turns to warmer temperatures implicates him even more.
By scapegoating WHO and almost lumping its work in alliance with China, reports signal that he is deflecting scrutiny away from his miscalculation and mishandling of the coronavirus epidemic at home.
For a record, China did not make it easy for WHO or any outsiders to get to the bottom of what really happened in its provinces of Wuhang and Hubei.
The US President is getting hammered for his delayed and contradictory strategy to Covid-19 despite his (earlier) January travel ban imposed on China.
He stated that WHO failed to acquire and share information in a timely manner. Thus, from the onset it should have investigated the outbreak in Wuhan, China. In a sterner condemnation yet to the global health body to date since the coronavirus outbreak. World Health Organization abdicated its responsibility, Trump lashed out.
US major funder of WHO
Donald Trump pretty much knows the decision to turn off the cash tap will have a major impact on WHO programs. As a matter of fact, WHO is in a much better position to coordinate a global onslaught to minimize the horrific consequences of the pandemic, stated Gates. Adding that it will be very difficult to plug the hole left by the US.
Huang has highlighted succinctly the WHO programs that benefited from the US funding. Saying that:
“[T]he two-year budget cycle of 2018 and 2019, the U.S. government pledged $656 million in voluntary contributions earmarked for specific programs.”
Chart courtesy of Huang/NPR
Global infections have tallied over 2, 367 758 with 163, 134 deaths to go with it as published by Johns Hopkins University.
Rising to 39, 135, the United States leads the globe with the number of the deceased. Hopkins also shows that the US’s cases are nearing 800, 000. The US is and has been the hotbed of Covid-19 for some time now.
In South Africa, the Department of Health confirmed Sunday cases stand at 3, 158 and 54 deaths.