AU chair criticises Trump for cutting WHO funding

The chairperson of the African Union commission, Moussa Faki, has criticised US President Donald Trump on Twitter over his decision to freeze funding to the World Health Organisation. 

“The USgovt decision to suspend funding to @WHO is deeply regrettable. Today more than ever ,the world depends on WHO’s leadership to steer the global #Covid_19 pandemic response. Our collective responsibility to ensure WHO can fully carry out its mandate, has never been more urgent,” he posted. 

Experts say the defunding of the WHO will have a devastating impact in Africa, where the health agency has been critical in the fight against malaria, TB and HIV. 

The WHO often helps fill the funding gaps in Africa’s weak healthcare infrastructure, as well as coordinating the current response to the coronavirus on the continent. 

The USA is the organisation’s single largest funder, providing more than $400m each year - approximately 15% of its total budget. 

President Trump had criticised the agency over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, alleging that it had been overly trusting of China and mistaken in its advice against imposing travel bans.

On Tuesday, Mr Trump told reporters that he would withhold funding while a review was conducted into the WHO’s management of the crisis. 

The president said the WHO had “failed in its basic duty” to respond to the virus. He has been widely criticised for his decision. 

Photo: The Standard