By Muciri Wawira.
47th President of the United States Donald Trump, on taking office saw the declaration of many new reforms, including the withdrawal of the U.S from the World Health Organization (WHO) citing that the organization had mishandled the Covid-19 pandemic which led to the deaths of many people around the globe. He stated that the virus was manufactured in a laboratory in Wuhan- China and allegedly the organization had covered up it to protect the China Communist government.
The organization has also failed to adopt needed reforms and is calling out WHO for failing to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states. The US is the WHO’s biggest donor, marking 15% of the total budget needed by the organization. Trump states that the US continues to make unfair payments to the organization's funding, even more than China, which has a much larger population compared to the US.
Trump had tried to withdraw from WHO in his first term but Joe Biden halted the withdrawal since it takes one year to withdraw according to a joint resolution made by Congress in 1948 stating that the USA can withdraw from WHO with one year’s notice.
The withdrawal sparks debate as panic grows among HIV patients, its overall effect on the eradication of smallpox and MPox slows down and WHO beneficiaries face setbacks. The U.S. contributes 14% of WHO’s annual budget that is; US$728 million of all voluntary contributions that cater to HIV/AIDS, polio, smallpox and Mpox eradication. After Trump’s inauguration on 20th January 2025, he signed executive orders to withdraw the U.S. from WHO. This will affect HIV patients who rely on these funds from WHO as they face uncertainties about future treatment of the disease.
This sudden withdrawal may cause an increase in mortality rate in most African countries that relied on the contributions from the U.S. Most hit countries include South Africa with 101,368 people affected, Mozambique with 25,932 affected, Kenya with 17,229 people affected, and more African countries affected at large. There is also a high risk of an increase in new infections that may lead to an epidemic that will likely spread globally. This act of withdrawal threatens progress to end AIDS by 2030 globally and opens doors for increased mortality rates.
Smallpox and Monkeypox eradication will be slowed down and potential epidemics arise as Trump pauses transfer of the U.S funds. This throws global health at risk of, potential epidemics and setbacks soon. It will weaken the ability of funded countries which are mostly African countries to respond efficiently to health emergencies. Beneficiaries of WHO will be deeply affected and have various implications in African countries after the withdrawal decision by President Donald Trump. They will have to look for alternative financial sources to support their healthcare emergencies and potential outbreaks of diseases that pose a risk in those countries.
African countries and other beneficiaries should be ready to deal with these challenges and come up with solutions as early as possible to salvage financial struggles after the withdrawal of contributions from the US. Other effects of the withdrawal will be felt as other countries will likely reduce their commitment to WHO and other such international institutions. This will threaten core health programs in Africa as 27% of all US funding for Africa goes to polio eradication, 20% to improve healthcare services and the rest is for preparedness and response to pandemics.
The USA may face diplomatic isolation from other countries if they proceed with the withdrawal. The World Health Organization pleaded to the Trump administration that they reconsider their withdrawal. "For over seven decades, WHO and the USA have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats. Together, we ended smallpox, and together we have brought polio to the brick of eradication. American institutions have contributed to and benefited from membership in WHO," said the health agency in a release posted on social media.
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