U.S. Withdrawal from WHO Threatens Africa’s Health Initiatives

DAKAR (Reuters) – The U.S. plan to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) will adversely impact health initiatives across Africa, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Thursday. They urge African nations to seek alternative financing sources.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed the executive order to exit WHO on Monday, shortly after beginning his second term. Public health officials in Africa are concerned about the potential repercussions of this decision on the WHO’s capacity to combat diseases globally, particularly as the U.S. has been its largest funder.

Ngashi Ngongo, a senior official at Africa CDC, noted that many African countries rely on U.S. investments through the WHO to support public health programs. “The WHO has significantly improved health program delivery on the continent,” Ngongo stated during a media briefing. He warned that cutting U.S. funding would impact health responses across Africa, prompting the need for countries to reassess their public health financing strategies.

Zimbabwe’s finance minister also expressed worries that the withdrawal might lead to reductions in health aid for nations heavily affected by diseases like HIV/AIDS. Ngongo mentioned that the Africa CDC plans to evaluate the situation and might seek funding from non-African partners to offset the anticipated decline in WHO support.

While he does not expect a substantial immediate impact on the Africa CDC, Ngongo voiced concern that a collaborative action plan developed with the U.S. could be jeopardized due to this shift.