Amid global outrage of covid-19 pandemic the Trump administration managed to remain the headline of global daily after it announced its withdrawal from the Geneva based multinational public health organisation WHO. USA which acted as the major financial strength for over several decades to this premium health agency has declared to freeze all its financial and technical support to WHO and decided to diverge its way from the agency in matter of public health.
President Donald Trump accused the agency of becoming a puppet of China and concealing critical information during coronavirus pandemic. Trump announced that “we will be terminating our relationship with the WHO and planning of redirecting the funds to worldwide which is deserving urgent global public health needs”. WHO has denied all the assertions and blame put by Trump that it has promoted China’s disinformation around the world. Although the Trump administration had cited the irregularities and malfunctioning of WHO as the reason for the decision of withdrawal from the elite public health agency.
However other side of the coin must be evaluated. It has been noticed that Trump is adamant on politization of public health even at the cost of Americans’ life. Trump seems to be politicking public health to such a degree that Americans are getting sick. Trump claimed that he is taking the much needed step against WHO for global health concern but his action can be portrayed as a masterpiece of a true senseless move for coordinating the global fight against covid-19
Pseudo blame of Trump on WHO
It is indeed true that Trump has found an easy target to blame WHO for his failure over corona outbreak and outrage arouse in his nation against the government over George Floyd’s extra judicial execution .
But all the claims and assertion put forward by trump over WHO appears to be just a convincing lie as the organisation indeed provided early warning to the world in the form of public health emergency of international concern on Jan 30. Despite of this earlier alarm many countries including the USA failed to act upon the advice of WHO in a comprehensive and timely manner.
Nevertheless ,the blame put by the US President is no less than a conspired practice to distract the mass from the critical cases of death from covid-19 and the brutal killing of George Floyd and all this melodrama created by Donald Trump for his political mileage with a short-sighted and lethal plan .
Short-sighted and fatal move can lead to global loss
WHO is an independent international body and has been working immensely across the globe in the field of public health and worked impressively to eradicate polio and measles ,reduced human disparities and provided much needed technical and clinical assistance to the deprived countries. The Trump administration must understand the intensity, quantum and depth of WHO efforts on public health which even multiplies exponentially in global pandemic period.
The decision of USA’s withdrawal from the 163 members premium health institution and freezing the fund in the middle of the crisis is no less than a suicidal step and unimaginable.
Even one cannot think of such immature move coming from the oldest democracy and superpower. The decision of leaving such a vital global organisation has been taken in a time when proper international coordination and responses are the only way to neutralize the impact of pandemic.
It is often seen that in the period of crisis a good leader is the one who work for constructive cooperation and engagement rather than isolating and disengaging the nation. Even the Trump’s campaign Moto “Americans first” seems to dictate the fight of covid-19 and this dominating attitude of the president is evident from the act when he tries to purchase all the stock of “Ramdesivir” one of the drug proven effective against Covid. Upsurge of power and administration failure invite global criticism and will eventually make USA to stand alone in Covid crisis.
Even if we look at the incident of Ebola outbreak in 2014-15 when USA and the other countries questioned about performance of WHO. But rather than withdrawing membership and funds the USA tried to boost the agency and provided all the needed assistance for its smooth functioning. This kind of modus operandi could also prove effective in case of coronavirus pandemic outbreak.
Demise for global health fraternity
Trump’s bossy move which is regarded as short-sighted and foolish which will eventually cost Americans’ lives. Global experts claim that such move will invite misfortune and can even turn America into graveyard causing in irrevocable damage.
Trump must understand that the fight against pandemic can’t be won in isolation and needs an international cooperation among global health members for which it has to be dependent on WHO. The US must understand that until the pandemic is eradicated all around the world the USA will not be safe.
USA for over decades after the formation of WHO remains one of the major financial contributor to the organisation thus ensuring that work of WHO does not get hampered due to lack of financial assistance. If USA block its funds to WHO this will lead to serious setback to the global health agency and global response toward pandemic . This will be perilous for health and people everywhere and even worse for America’s economy, it had ever witnessed.
GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH SHOULD NOT BE NEGOTIATED
Trump must be conscious about the fact that freezing resources and technical support can be proved fatal for the world so as to USA. The only thing which can halt and eradicate the current crisis is a vaccine against COVID 19. But for devising a vaccine which can be granted clinical sanctions for mass production is possible only when technical, clinical and policy guideline for wide range of topics are made available to the organisation involving in fabricating process of vaccine , and no agency other than WHO could do this task.
Even if we look beyond the current crisis WHO is fighting multiple battles in various front against wide range of diseases right from the polio eradication to the immunization programme and campaigns , How can we forget about the controlling of infectious diseases program that if left unchecked can bring other pandemic.
Apart from these various other efforts undertaken by WHO are :-
- WHO is working as a regulator in improving and wearing new technologies to accelerate pace for immunization programme and promote gender equality
- WHO use its excellence in eradicating disparities and make sure that vulnerable population is not forgotten.
- WHO maintain a check and balance over the countries and make sure that international protocols and norms are not broken and public health is accessed by all in a sustainable manner.
- Premium agency WHO provide resources for research and development in order to improve the quality and reduce irregularities in health services.
- Give voice to marginalised community like LGBTQ+ who need unique and special sexual and reproductive health facilities.
- WHO work tirelessly to improve access to contraceptives; detect and treat cervical cancer; promotes maternal care; improve sexual and reproductive health facilities.
The USA response can harm the global health system and will bring all the progressive health programmes and services in the shade of uncertainty. For a progressive world the need is to protect all the potential global healthcare programmes of WHO and the achievements of the elite health agency must be acknowledged.
The loss of funding and technical assistance means that it will not be able to work in full capacity which is not a desirable situation in ongoing pandemic. This will surely be not good for the health and security of world.
However if Trump administration does not manage to terminate the partnership with WHO at a rapid pace. there’s a very real possibility that Trump will lose an election between now and then, the decision on whether to actually leave hands of World Health Organization may fall to his successor and there is very good possibility that Trump rival will overturn trump decision to abandon WHO.
But even if USA withdraws its support from WHO it is the responsibility of other allies to strengthen the organisation and mitigate the financial gap which will result due to lack of financial assistance from USA. All the member nations must cooperate and provide all the needed financial and technical assistance to WHO so that it can reduce its dependence on bigger players like US.
[Writer is a student of faculty of Commerce, BHU and a Member of FETC]