Donald Trump, the President of the United States of America has stated that the country will be cutting ties with the World Health Organisation over the body’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
He announced this at a press conference at the White House on Friday. According to him, “China has total control over World Health Organization despite only paying $40 million per year compared to what the United States has been paying which is approximately $450 million a year. We have detailed to them the reforms that they must make and engaged with them directly but they have refused to act.”
He added that Chinese officials “ignored their reporting obligations” to the WHO about the virus – that has killed hundreds of thousands of people globally – and pressured the agency to “mislead the world.”
Last month America stopped funding for the health organisation and on the 18th of May, gave the 194-member organisation 30 days to commit to reforms
Possibly trying to diminish the impact of this action by Donald Trump, last week the Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to give $2 billion to the WHO over the next two years. This amount almost matches the organisation’s entire annual program budget for last year/
Though Trump’s action may severely impact the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it could lead to adverse consequences to global public health.
It also inadvertently raises China’s influence and position in world’s global politics.
About 6 million people around the world have contracted the coronavirus, and over 360,000 have died.
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