President Trump has initiated an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). This decision requires congressional approval and the fulfillment of the U.S.'s financial obligations for the current fiscal year. The withdrawal process demands a one-year notice, but immediate actions are already impacting global health collaborations.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received directives to halt most public communications until the end of the month. A memo sent to senior CDC leaders on Sunday night instructed them to stop collaborations with the WHO. Consequently, CDC staff are prohibited from visiting WHO offices, severing a vital channel for exchanging information about new tests, treatments, and emerging outbreaks.
Health experts express deep concerns over these developments. Dr. Jeffrey Klausner emphasized the gravity of this action, stating:
"Stopping communications and meetings with WHO is a big problem"
"Talking to WHO is a two-way street"
"which can help us protect Americans abroad and at home"
The freeze extends beyond CDC's interactions with WHO, affecting the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program. This initiative, which provides HIV medication to over 20 million people, faces a potential halt in funding for at least three months. PEPFAR has been instrumental in saving 25 million lives, including 5.5 million children, since its establishment by President George W. Bush and continued by subsequent administrations.
Global health experts warn that cutting off PEPFAR funding could result in catastrophic outcomes. Beatriz Grinsztejn highlighted the dire implications:
"and stopping its funding essential stops their HIV treatment. If that happens, people are going to die and HIV will resurge"
This freeze on foreign aid spending threatens to unravel years of progress in combating HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. Experts fear that these setbacks could hinder efforts to investigate and contain outbreaks of diseases such as Marburg virus and mpox.
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