WHO is a UN body which works for global health system. It depends mainly on its member countries for its funding and also on some voluntary contributions from other bodies. It has worked quite well in past during several epidemic. It runs several programs regionally like polio eradication in India, controlling Ebola virus from Africa region etc.
Recently, Donald Trump announced to stop its funding from America accusing of the exponentially increasing pandemic of COVID-19. Trump accused WHO that they have neglected this virus while it was at nascent stage in china. This has led to WHO and world to a shock as at this important time a major contribution (15% of WHO budget) has been stopped.
This act of Trump will not only affect world in fighting with coronavirus but also with other disease. Democratic republic of Congo has again seen Ebola virus eruption. They need medical facilities which were provided by WHO. Faction of money is also spent on WHO research program where vaccine of SARS-COV2 is one of the research activity currently higher in need. In India it’s polio eradication program will also be affected.
We are lucky to have Bill gates in this world who has said that they will increase their funding to cope with vaccum created by USA. Germany and China has also joined their hands in filling that gap. At this point of time it is clear that Trump is trying to blame WHO for spike of cases in USA as elections are on hand in Nov. However he should realise his mistake of taking this pandemic lightly like Italy.
No doubt WHO has done some mistakes in realising coronavirus pandemic but seeing their past and their capabilities, member states should come forward and join hands together to fight this pandemic and this can only be through cooperation of each bodies.
amit kumar 