US President Donald Trump has instructed his administration to halt funding to the World Health Organization (WHO).
He is accusing the global health body of promoting what he calls China’s “disinformation” about the coronavirus.
President Trump said the WHO failed in its duties and its cover up for China was likely to led to a wider outbreak.
Trump told reporters at the White House that “I am directing my administration to halt funding while a review is conducted to access the World Health Organization’s role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.”
“The WHO failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable,” Trump added.
He said “With the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have deep concerns whether America’s generosity has been put to the best use possible.”
Donald Trump suspends US funding to World Health Org, says the organisation ‘failed in its basic duty and must be held accountable’ #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/u35cy4I3iy
— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) April 14, 2020
US financial contributions to the WHO is just under 15% of the organization’s funding in 2019.
The US has now become the epicentre of the pandemic with over 592,743 cases and 25,239 deaths as at April 14, 2020.
US campaign against WHO boss
The latest move by the Trump administration could pile pressure on the leadership of the WHO.
U.S politicians have been leading a campaign already to have the boss of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus removed from office.
They accused him of allowing China to under-report the impact of the virus in Wuhan, where the outbreak started.
China has been accused of significantly downplaying its official virus cases, with some estimates suggesting their death toll could be as high as 40,000.
But many African leaders came to the defence of Tedros, warning the US against such a campaign at this time of a global crisis.
Dr. Tedros has said that it is dangerous to play politics with the lives of people especially during a crisis moment like this.
He said “No time to waste. Let’s focus on saving lives. Collaboration across party lines important to ensure national unity to fight the virus more effectively.
National unity is a foundation for global solidarity. When we do this, we quarantine political covid. Stop politicizing.”
An online petition has already been launched with almost one million signatures secured calling for the resignation of Tedros.
The petition reads that “On January 23rd, 2020 Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declines to declare China virus outbreak as a global health emergency” although that was done later in March.
“Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus under estimated the coronavirus. We strongly think Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is not fit for his role as WHO Director General. We call for the Immediate Resignation of Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,” the petition stated.
Source: Africafeeds.com
