Ghebreyesus: "The sudden US refusal to fund the WHO

US refusal to fund WHO

WHO: USAID dissolution affects 50 countries

Ghebreyesus: "The sudden US refusal to fund and funding cuts from other member states have left the WHO with an income shortfall of nearly $600 million this year alone."

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Thursday that the suspension of USAID has affected 50 countries, disrupting funding for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programs. He noted that the organization will lose $600 million this year.

Ghebreyesus said at a conference on changes in global health policy, and the WHO press office published the text of his speech: "The sudden dissolution of USAID is causing chaos in countries, with 50 countries currently affected, with serious disruptions to HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, immunization, polio, and health and humanitarian emergency response programs."

Ghebreyesus added that "the sudden refusal of funding by the United States and the reduction of funding by other Member States have left the WHO with an income shortfall of nearly $600 million this year alone." He added, "We now have no choice but to reduce our work and workforce."

The WHO Director-General continued, "In the current situation, the WHO is working diligently to assess the implications of the United States' withdrawal from the WHO." Ghebreyesus noted that since 2017, when he was elected to his current position, the WHO has been undergoing a "transformation process."

He continued, "One of the key risks we have identified is the WHO's overreliance on a few traditional donors, including the United States," adding that steps have been taken "to address this risk and broaden the donor base."