
…Says U.S withdrawal creates $1.2bn annual budget shortfall for WHO
By TOM CHIAHEMEN –
The withdrawing of the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), has been described as a major setback for Health Security and a Safer World.
Group CEO of the Nairobi-based Amref Health Africa, Dr Githinji Gitahi, who made the assertion in a position statement on Friday, noted that the U.S. withdrawal would create a budget shortfall of over $1.2 billion out of WHO’s annual budget of approximately $5 billion.

“Unless offset by increased contributions from other countries and philanthropies, this shortfall threatens to weaken our global health security, especially arising from the most fragile health systems mainly in Africa.,” Gitahi said.
President Donald Trump, on his first day in office, signed an executive order withdrawing the U.S from the world health body.

The move by President Trump, according to Dr. Gitahi, “undermines decades of global health and health security gains and leaves the U.S., Africa, and the world more vulnerable to infectious diseases and public health threats.”
“WHO through WHO Afro, alongside Africa CDC, plays a critical role in Africa’s public health by providing technical assistance in disease surveillance, control and response,
and Health systems strengthening alongside strengthening core capacities for the International Health Regulations,” the Amref CEO said.
Another implication of the U.S withdrawal from the WHO is that “African governments, already under debt distress, would struggle to fill the gap, leaving the world fragile and unsafe for everyone amid accelerating disease outbreaks from climate change and human-environment ‘conflict.”
The Amref Health Africa therefore urged the U.S administration to “reconsider its decision and engage with WHO to protect the health and well-being of millions in Africa and world-wide,” pointing out that global cooperation was essential for a safer, healthier future.