United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the suspension of US funding of the WHO saying it was “not the time” to be reducing funds to the WHO or any other organisation fighting the pandemic.
“Now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences,” Guterres said in a statement.
United States President Donald Trump had earlier threatened to suspend payments to the World Health Organisation WHO, while it reviews virus warnings regarding China.
Trump, at a White House news conference, claimed the WHO had “failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable”.
US contributed about 15per cent of WHO budget in 2019. Other top funders are Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, GAVI, United Kingdom and Germany. A quarter of budget went to polio eradication, 12per cent on access to healthcare, five per cent on outbreak prevention and control while half of all spending was in Africa.
Trump said on Tuesday that he had instructed his administration to suspend funding to the WHO over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, in a move that drew immediate condemnation.
The President accused the group of promoting China’s “disinformation” about the virus that likely led to a wider outbreak of the virus than otherwise would have occurred.
Trump said the US would continue to engage with the WHO in pursuit of what he calls meaningful reforms. He added that the “hold” on funding would continue while the US reviews the organisation’s warnings about the coronavirus and China.
Available statistics show that US coronavirus deaths top 25,000 as confirmed cases near 600,000 while New York virus deaths top 10,000 as officials say more testing needed
The WHO did not immediately comment.
By Segun Fatuase
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