WHO Chief Warns Millions At Risk As He Urges US to Reconsider Health Funding Cuts
24 March 2025 · Uncategorized ·
Source: · https://technews.tw/2025/03/18/usa-cut-funds-who-warning/
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus today urged the United States to reconsider its decision to drastically cut global health funds, warning that a sudden withdrawal would threaten millions of lives.
According to reports by AFP, Tedros cautioned that interrupting HIV programs alone could result in over 10 million new cases and three million related deaths. Addressing media outlets, he stated: “We are asking America to reconsider its support for global health.”
Since returning to the White House this January, US President Donald Trump has withdrawn from WHO and frozen nearly all foreign aid, including substantial assistance aimed at improving global health worldwide.
The United States is traditionally the largest donor; therefore, a sudden shift in stance has plunged the humanitarian sector into chaos.
Tedros warned that cutting direct funding provided by agencies such as USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to countries would have significant repercussions. He stated that years of progress against diseases ranging from HIV, measles, and polio will suffer immediate setbacks.
Shortages, delayed deliveries, or a lack of funds are already causing severe disruptions in the supply chain for essential items such as malaria diagnostic tests, drugs, and insecticide-treated bed nets.
For two decades, America has been the largest bilateral donor in combating malaria, helping to prevent approximately two billion cases and twelve million deaths. “If this situation continues,” Tedros said, "we could see an additional fifteen million new malaria cases and 107,000 related deaths just this year.”
The impact on HIV programs is equally concerning; funding from PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief) has nearly ceased, leading to “immediate interruptions of HIV treatments, testing, and prevention services in over fifty countries." Eight nations are now experiencing severe disruptions with drug supplies expected to run out within months. He also highlighted the impact on tuberculosis control efforts, noting that nine countries have reported issues with TB drug procurement and supply chains, putting patients at risk.
Regarding vaccines, Tedros emphasized how WHO's “Global Measles & Rubella Network,” comprising over 700 laboratories funded solely by US aid, is now facing an immediate shutdown—a critical development given the resurgence of measles cases after fifty years in which the vaccine has saved nearly ninety-four million lives.
Tedros acknowledged Washington’s generous contributions over many years and stated: “Of course... (the U.S.) has every right to decide what programs it supports and how much.” However, he added that "America also bears a responsibility to ensure that if direct funding is withdrawn from countries, this must be done in an orderly and humane manner so they can find alternative sources of funds."
He concluded: “If the US decides not to resume providing direct assistance to these nations, we are asking for dialogue between America and affected states to develop plans transitioning away from reliance on American funding towards more sustainable solutions—avoiding disruptions that would cause loss of life.”
(Translator's note: The original article was written in Chinese with some terms translated directly into English. Proper names such as USAID, CDC, PEPFAR were kept unchanged due to their specific meanings.)
According to reports by AFP, Tedros cautioned that interrupting HIV programs alone could result in over 10 million new cases and three million related deaths. Addressing media outlets, he stated: “We are asking America to reconsider its support for global health.”
Since returning to the White House this January, US President Donald Trump has withdrawn from WHO and frozen nearly all foreign aid, including substantial assistance aimed at improving global health worldwide.
The United States is traditionally the largest donor; therefore, a sudden shift in stance has plunged the humanitarian sector into chaos.
Tedros warned that cutting direct funding provided by agencies such as USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to countries would have significant repercussions. He stated that years of progress against diseases ranging from HIV, measles, and polio will suffer immediate setbacks.
Shortages, delayed deliveries, or a lack of funds are already causing severe disruptions in the supply chain for essential items such as malaria diagnostic tests, drugs, and insecticide-treated bed nets.
For two decades, America has been the largest bilateral donor in combating malaria, helping to prevent approximately two billion cases and twelve million deaths. “If this situation continues,” Tedros said, "we could see an additional fifteen million new malaria cases and 107,000 related deaths just this year.”
The impact on HIV programs is equally concerning; funding from PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief) has nearly ceased, leading to “immediate interruptions of HIV treatments, testing, and prevention services in over fifty countries." Eight nations are now experiencing severe disruptions with drug supplies expected to run out within months. He also highlighted the impact on tuberculosis control efforts, noting that nine countries have reported issues with TB drug procurement and supply chains, putting patients at risk.
Regarding vaccines, Tedros emphasized how WHO's “Global Measles & Rubella Network,” comprising over 700 laboratories funded solely by US aid, is now facing an immediate shutdown—a critical development given the resurgence of measles cases after fifty years in which the vaccine has saved nearly ninety-four million lives.
Tedros acknowledged Washington’s generous contributions over many years and stated: “Of course... (the U.S.) has every right to decide what programs it supports and how much.” However, he added that "America also bears a responsibility to ensure that if direct funding is withdrawn from countries, this must be done in an orderly and humane manner so they can find alternative sources of funds."
He concluded: “If the US decides not to resume providing direct assistance to these nations, we are asking for dialogue between America and affected states to develop plans transitioning away from reliance on American funding towards more sustainable solutions—avoiding disruptions that would cause loss of life.”
(Translator's note: The original article was written in Chinese with some terms translated directly into English. Proper names such as USAID, CDC, PEPFAR were kept unchanged due to their specific meanings.)