President Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization—and the accompanying pause in funding—is expected to have profound consequences for health in Africa. Washington is the WHO’s largest donor, providing about 18% of the organization’s budget. Consequently, the loss of US funds threatens critical health programs, including polio eradication, HIV/AIDS response, and emergency outbreak controls, at a time when many of these initiatives are already underfunded. This funding gap could transfer the responsibility for the finances of these programs to African nations, many of whom already suffer from fiscal constraints. If they are unable to pick up the slack, Trump’s decision could lead to increased mortality and morbidity rates on the continent. Moreover, the US pullout risks undermining decades of collaborative global health efforts and could trigger a shift in international influence, possibly paving the way for greater Chinese involvement in the continent’s health governance.
Source: The Conversation
