By Grace Ademulegun
The chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Moussa Faki has expressed profound concern about the United States’ intention to pull out of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
On Monday, January 20, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump made the announcement, pointing to the WHO’s alleged mismanagement of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, as well as other international health emergencies.
Faki underlined the crucial role the United States has had in influencing international public health policy and assisting with important health projects in Africa in a statement posted on the Commission’s official website on Thursday, January 23.
Faki said: “Over the past seven decades, the U.S., as a member of WHO, has been instrumental in developing global norms and instruments for public health, security, and well-being.”
He emphasised the important contributions made by the United States to Africa, especially its backing of the creation of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and the AU’s technical agency for handling public health crises.
“To detect, prepare for, respond to, and recover from pandemics, the Africa CDC collaborates closely with WHO and its global members,” he stated, saying, “WHO’s mission to ensure global public health security as a shared common good is more important than ever to the world.”
Faki urged the U.S. government to reevaluate its choice, calling WHO a “key global organisation” that is crucial to solving global health issues.