Video: Trump Halts U.S. Funding to WHO over Coronavirus Response

United States President Donald Trump is halting funding of the World Health Organization (WHO) while “a review is conducted to assess WHO’s role in mismanaging the Coronavirus outbreak.”

Speaking Tuesday evening during a press conference at the White House, Trump accused WHO of “severely mismanaging and covering up” the coronavirus, adding, “The WHO failed in this basic duty and must be held accountable.”

Trump has since come under intense domestic pressure over the handling of the novel virus which has so far killed more than 24,000 people in United States.

While Trump has been accused of shifting blame to WHO, his decision underscores the dangers of relying on one country to fund the better part of such an important international organization.

On Tuesday, Trump threatened to cut the funding for the WHO, saying the global health organization has become “China-centric.”

AU chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said the body “fully supports the WHO and Dr. Tedros,” the director general of the organization.

“The focus should remain on collectively fighting COVID-19 as a united global community,” he said. “The time for accountability will come.”

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa heaped praises on Dr Tedros, saying he was showing “exceptional leadership … from the earliest stages of this unprecedented global health crisis”.

Rwanda’s Paul Kagame chipped in, Tweeting, “DrTedros as leader of WHO  has the full confidence and support of Africa…as we know it.”

However, the African countries which have thrown their weight behind Tedros are unlikely to raise funds to support WHO’s work.

Many AU members are struggling to cope with the devastating economic effects of COVID-19.

United States contributed more than $400 million in 2019, about 15% of WHO’s budget.

President @realDonaldTrump is halting funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess WHO's role in mismanaging the Coronavirus outbreak. pic.twitter.com/jTrEf4WWj0

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 14, 2020

Nevertheless, halting funding for WHO will undermine the Organisation’s efforts to confront the dangerous pandemic.

So far, WHO has shipped more than two million items of personal protective equipment to 133 countries, and is preparing to ship another two million items in the coming weeks.

More than a million diagnostic tests have been dispatched to 126 countries, in all regions, and more are being sourced.

Laboratories in many countries are already conducting tests that, it is hoped, will eventually lead to a vaccine. In an attempt to corral these efforts, WHO recently brought together 400 of the world’s leading researchers in February, to identify research priorities.