Established in April 1948 as an agency within the United Nations, the World Health Organization plays a pivotal role in coordinating many aspects of health care for Earth's inhabitants. The overriding goal of WHO, as stated in its constitution, is "the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health." Although infectious diseases are at the forefront today, WHO actively promotes improvement in health systems in developing countries and supports programs which address malnutrition, substance abuse and violence. One recent initiative provides insulin for diabetic patients in countries where the drug is otherwise unavailable.
From its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, WHO oversees programs in its 194 member states. Each nation is represented in the World Health Assembly. A 34-member, technically qualified Executive Board formulates policy, budget and agenda. Six regional offices along with agencies within individual countries execute programs and serve as monitors for new threats to health.
Financial support for WHO comes from assessments to member-states, based upon population and wealth (51% of support in 2018), UN agencies and development banks (16%), a variety of philanthropies (13%), and non-governmental organizations (9%).
For the biennial budget of $4.4 billion for 2018-2019, leading contributors were: U.S. (15.2%), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (12.1%), GAVI Alliance, a vaccine dispersal organization (8.2%), United Kingdom (7.7%), Germany (5.8%), Japan (3.8%), and Rotary International (2.5%). For comparison, Vanderbilt University Medical Center reported revenues of $4.5 billion for fiscal year 2019.
The U.S. assessment for the 2020-2021 WHO budget is $115.8 million, which will likely increase to more than $400 million with voluntary contributions, which have characterized our nation's support for many years.
WHO's most publicized programs relate to infectious diseases. The eradication of smallpox represents one of WHO's major accomplishments. The organization announced in 1959 a campaign to eradicate the disease. Victory was declared in 1980. A similar campaign is underway to conquer polio. In 2019, only Afghanistan and Pakistan reported cases of polio. Continuing campaigns are focused upon control of malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS, which afflict millions of people.
Here is the timeline for WHO involvement in the novel coronavirus pandemic:
* On Dec. 31, 2019, Wuhan Municipal Health Commission reported to WHO a cluster of cases of unusual pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubie Province, China. WHO immediately set up teams to respond, alerted regional and local offices, and placed the organization on emergency footing.
* On Jan. 4, WHO reported the outbreak in scientific, medical and public health bulletins. On Jan. 10, WHO released to all nations a bulletin that outlined testing and management of suspected victims. A technical team visited Wuhan on Jan. 20.
Once person-to-person transmission of the new disease was confirmed, WHO declared the outbreak a "Public Health Emergency of Global Concern" on Jan. 30. The new disease was named COVID-19 on Feb. 11. WHO declared a global pandemic on March 11 and soon thereafter launched an emergency, worldwide appeal for $675 million to combat the looming disaster. WHO continues to monitor outbreaks of COVID-19 and to, provide updates for management of the pandemic.
On April 14, President Trump suspended U.S. support for WHO, charging, "The WHO failed in its basic duty and must be held accountable." He further stated, "The outbreak could have been contained at its source."
Withdrawal of U.S. funding and participation in WHO would be a colossal mistake. WHO is the only international agency that can track epidemics and issue nonbinding, expert guidance for their management. Enactment of WHO recommendations is the responsibility of individual nations. No other organization leads worldwide efforts to control diseases that afflict hundreds of millions of people. Abandonment of WHO tells the rest of the world, including our allies, that the U.S. does not care about their well-being.
Contact Clif Cleaveland at ccleaveland@timesfreepress.com.