By Chiedza Muswe
UN Chief Secretary General António Guterres has called for world unity as US President Donald Trump announces that he will halt funding for the UN health agency, World Health Organization (WHO),at a time the world is faced with fierce fight against the deadly coronavirus.
In a statement, Guterres said, “It is my belief that the World Health Organization must be supported, as it is absolutely critical to the world’s efforts to win the war against COVID-19.”
The statement comes after President Trump, blamed WHO on Tuesday, for what he called its failures in the Covid19 crisis saying he planned to halt American funding of the organization. He said he would halt payments while the Administration reviewed its role and responses in handling the virus.
However, Mr Guterres said now is a learning curve and a time to mobilise resources and prepare for the future in case the wold is faced with a similar problem.
“The lessons learnt will be essential to effectively address similar challenges, as they may arise in the future, but now is not that time, it is also not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus,” he said.
Mr Guterres added that,“Unity must prevail, so that the international community can work together, in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences.”
Last year, the United States contributed about $553 million of the WHO’s $6 billion budget, a major sum to lose in the middle of a pandemic.
Speaking to this publication, one Political Analyst said, “The USA is the biggest funder to these big organisations UN, WHO and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) among others. It is now holding WHO at ransom because they know that if they withdraw their funding the organisation will be greatly affected.
Meanwhile, Guterres went on to highlight that WHO has thousands of its staff aiding and assisting operations across the world to limit the transmission of the coronavirus. Mr Guterres said most of WHO staff is on the front line, supporting Member States and their societies, especially the most vulnerable, with guidance, training, equipment and concrete life-saving services.
Social media is awash with people blaming President Trump for failing to take responsibility in the fight against the spread of Covid19 in the USA, with over 600 000 people having been infected and over 26 000 people having died from the virus.
