A bad omen
We have been witnessing quite a few decisions announced by the Trump administration that are proving very disturbing. Though these decisions may be part of Washington’s way of dealing with various issues, keeping in mind the interests of their nation.
But one decision by the Trump administration that will have a huge bearing on the current Covid-10 crisis is the withdrawal of the US from the World Health Organization. The breaking off ties with the global health body amid the expanding coronavirus pandemic is a big blow for the fight that is being fought against the deadly virus.
The US has accused the WHO of siding with China on the outbreak of the virus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, alleging the health body misled the world resulting in deaths of over half a million people globally, including over 130,000 in America.
Interestingly, the US stopped funding to WHO in April this year as the Trump administration reviewed the ties. A month later, President Donald Trump announced the US was terminating the relationship. The US is the largest funder to the world health, contributing more than USD450 million per annum, while China’s contribution to the health body is about one-tenth of that of the US.
The United States has been a party to the WHO Constitution since June 21, 1948. Its participation was accepted by the World Health Assembly with certain conditions set out by the US for its eventual withdrawal from this world body.
The decision to back off from the WHO at this crucial juncture will have greater implications on the efforts being pursued to contain the virus spread and reduce the number of fatalities due to Covid-19.
The US decision can be termed as a bad policy as the WHO is coordinating global health efforts under trying circumstances. Withdrawing from a world body during a global pandemic is utterly baffling, especially against the backdrop of deaths reported due to Covid-19 and efforts to conceive a vaccine to curb the spread of infection.
If the US would have remained in the WHO it would have provided a boost to the international efforts to develop a vaccine and strengthen other countries’ health systems to better address future outbreaks.
The world right now is in a panic situation. With no control being exercised on the virus it is only joint efforts that will help to bring the world closer to find a solution to the issue that has baffled all of us. The US decision is certainly pointing out to the fact that the United States of America has lost the sheen and courage to take the role of a leader in the fight against a global pandemic.
At least the actions that are being taken by it prove the same. By pulling out of the WHO, the US is letting go its control and influence over the world bodies including the all important WHO. And surely this does not augur well for a nation that claims to be leading the world.
KV Network
