AU Chairperson expresses disappointment over US withdrawal from WHO, urges reconsideration
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has expressed profound disappointment following the United States government’s decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO).
In a statement, Mahamat highlighted the pivotal role the U.S. has played in shaping global public health policies and instruments over the past seven decades. “The USA, as a member of WHO, was crucial in shaping global WHO instruments and norms on public health security and wellbeing,” Mahamat stated.
Mahamat stressed the significant contributions of the U.S. to Africa’s health systems, particularly its role in establishing the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). As a technical agency of the African Union, the Africa CDC works closely with WHO and international partners to address pandemics and other public health emergencies.
“In Africa, the USA was an early and strong supporter towards the establishment of Africa CDC, the African Union’s technical agency for public health emergencies,” he noted.
Mahamat stressed the irreplaceable role of WHO in ensuring global health security, especially as the world continues to face the fallout from recent pandemics and looming health crises. “Today, now more than ever, the world depends on WHO to carry out its mandate to ensure global public health security as a shared common good,” he said.
The AU Chairperson urged the U.S. government to reconsider its decision to withdraw from WHO, emphasizing its importance as a founding member of the organization. “The Chairperson therefore hopes the U.S. government will reconsider its decision to withdraw from this key global Organization,” he concluded.
The U.S. withdrawal has raised widespread concerns among global health experts, who fear it could weaken international efforts to combat future health emergencies and undermine the global public health system.
