Statement Concerning the United States Government’s Decision to Terminate Relations with the World Health Organization (WHO)

We, the undersigned organisations, note with grave concern the United States Government’s decision to terminate relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the midst of a global pandemic.

WHO is the only organization with the global mandate to coordinate the public health response to COVID-19 during this perilous time.

WHO plays a vital role in supporting countries to protect their citizens from public health threats, through coordination, developing vaccines, treatments and tests, training of health workers, and securing critical supplies particularly in humanitarian settings. This is as true for the current COVID-19 pandemic as it is for the many other health issues which continue to affect people throughout the world.

Challenging WHO’s mandate in these difficult times will cost lives. The current pandemic affects every one of us, and does not respect borders. No one is safe until everyone is safe. The only way to end the pandemic is to bring us closer together.

At this critical moment in the global response, we call for collaboration, constructive criticism and redoubling our efforts to fight this disease. We welcome Resolution WHA73.1 from the recent World Health Assembly, and in particular the call for an impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation of WHO’s response to COVID-19. Equally, we encourage all governments to evaluate their national responses to the epidemic.

Amidst the horror that the pandemic brings is a chance, through partnership and multilateralism, to create a world that is better than the one we had before; a world more equitable and able to serve the health needs of all people.

In September 2019, at the UN High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage, world leaders endorsed the most ambitious and comprehensive ​political declaration​ on health in history and committed to providing the opportunity for health to every person by 2030. It is now time that those world leaders back up their words with meaningful action.

Signed,

3r​ d​ Sector Support Africa
ACON
Action for Global Health
African Network of Adolescents and Young Persons Development (ANAYD) Afrihealth Optonet Association AIHMS-Global
Alliance Myanmar
American Academy of Pediatrics American Jewish World Service American Public Health Association (APHA)
American Society for Clinical Pathology American Society for Microbiology
American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
Americas TB Coalition
Amref Health Africa
APCASO
APCOM
Asociacion de Mujeres Gente Nueva (AMUGEN)
Associação Coalizão da Juventude Moçambicana
Association d’assistance au Développement
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Association for Promotion Sustainable Development
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations
AWTAD Anti-Corruption Organization Balanced Stewardship Development Association (BALSDA)
BHORE
Blood Patients Protection Council Bolivian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS
Bread for the World
BURKINABE OBSERVATORY FOR HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND SAFETY
Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Global Focus on Cancer
Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Reproductive Rights
Centre for Community-Driven Research Centre for Sustainable Access to Health in Africa
CERAMES
CHEN – patient fertility association – Israel
Children and Young People Living for Peace (CYPLP)
Christian Aid
Church World Service
Civil Society Engagement Mechanism (CSEM) of UHC2030
Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN)
Collectif pour le droit à la santé au maroc Commonwealth Medical Trust (Commat) Community Health Promotion and Sustenance Initiative
Consortium for the Advancement of Right for Key Affected Population ( CARKAP) CORE Group
Corporacion Kimirina
Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) Development Associates LLC
Dr. Uzo Adirieje Foundation (DUZAFOUND)
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Engineering Association for Development and Environment
ENHANCE CHILDREN AND WOMEN OF TANZANIA (ECWOT).
ETR
European Coalition of Positive People Every Mother Counts
Faiths for Safe Water
Federation of American Scientists
FIA Foundation
FMAIRTO
Food for the Hungry
Foundation for African Research and Development (FARD)
Foundation for Integrated Rural Development (FIRD)
Foundation for Sustainable Health Promotion and Development (FOSHPAD) Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Frontline AIDS
Fund for Global Health
Fundación Ecuatoriana Equidad Fundacion Huesped
GAVI CSO Constituency
GBCHealth
Global Focus on Cancer
Global Health Council
Global Health Technologies Coalition Global Network of Sex Worker Projects (NSWP)
Global Water 2020
God Bless the Child e.V. GRACE CENTER DRC Greater Accra
Haiti Cholera Research Funding Foundation, Inc. (USA)
Harare
Harm Reduction International
Health Alliance International
Health Economists Association Armenia Health Education Literacy Programme- HELP
Health Poverty Action
Health Professionals for Global Health, UK
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Healthcommunicators Nigeria
Helen Keller International
HIV Medicine Association
Hope for Future Generations
Infectious Diseases Society of America Instituto para el Desarrollo Humano – Bolivia
International Women’s Health Coalition InterSurgeon
IntraHealth International
Ipas
Jordan Library and Information and Association
LAC Key Correspondent Team
Lactation Lighthouse
Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Health Network (LACWHN)
League of Women Voters of the United States
Let There Be Light International
Living Goods
Making Waves Network
Malaria No More
Malawi Health Equity Network Mandioversa
Marie Stopes International
Mecanismo Social de Apoyo y Control de Colombia (MSCAV)
Medibeth Global Health Centre
Medical IMPACT
MEMISA
Meningitis Research Foundation
Neonatal Nurses Association of South Africa
Nephak
New Life Organisation
Nothing But Nets
Obatunde Oladapo, PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation ONG ODI NIGER (Organisation pour le Développement Inclusif au Niger)
Options Consultancy
Organisation For Health in Sustainable Development (OHISD)
Oxfam America
PAI
Pandemic Action Network
PATH
Pathfinder International
People living with HIV/AIDS (PLAS) –Lyantonde
People’s Health Movement Tanzania (PHM Tanzania)
Personal Connected Health Alliance (PCHAlliance)
Planet Aid
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Population Institute
Positive Women Inc. (New Zealand) Positively UK
Program in Global Surgery and Social Change at Harvard Medical School Réseau Accès aux Médicaments Essentiels (RAME)
RESULTS
ReSurge International
Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Safe Surgery Initiative
Salamander Trust
Sangram
Save the Children
SCI Foundation (UK) SERAC-Bangladesh
Smile Train
Solidarity Bridge
Speak Up Africa
Stanfort Mary Foundation
STOPAIDS
Strategic Poverty Alleviation Systems-SPAS
Sukaar Welfare Organization (Pakistan) Synergia – Iniciativas por los derechos humanos
T1International
TB Alert
Thailand National CAB on HIV Research The Access Challenge
The Crossing at Grasslands
The FAAAT Archive (FAAAT think & do tank)
The George Institute for Global Health The Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma and Anesthesia Care (The G4 Alliance)
The Hunger Project
The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
The Sabin Vaccine Institute
The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
THET
Tinada Youth Organization
TINPSWALO ASSOCIATION/EDY NACARAPA
Treatment Action Group
Ugenya Youth and Community Development Project
Ukana West 2 Community Based Health Initiative (CBHI)
Vaccine Advocacy Resource Group VIKASH-SAMUKHYA
Village Health Action
Vivir. Participacion, Incidencia y Transparencia, A.C.
WACI Health
WaterAid America
WECARe+ (Women in Europe and Central Asia Regions plus)
Wemos
What To Expect Project
White Ribbon Alliance
Women Deliver
Women in Global Health
Working Fingers International Initiative World Child Cancer
World Child Cancer USA
World Merit Burundi
World Organization of Family Doctors Youth and Environment Vision (YEV) Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (YCSRR)
Youth Initiative for the Promotion of Good Leadership in Nigeria

I​NDIVIDUALS
Ms. Aanu’ Rotimi
Abdelrahim Mutwakel Ballal
Ms. Aisha Oluwaseun Gambari Akinpelu Olayemi Tosin
Alex Hoffman
Ali Al-jumaili
Alisha Smith-Arthur, USAID/CDC Grantee
Amy Hagopian
Ann Rhomberg
Ann Wickham
Miss Anna Watkins
Anne Pfitzer
Ms. Aparna Barua Adams
Aqil M. Daher
Ms. Ari Shaw
Ukana West 2 Community Based Health Initiative (CBHI)
Vaccine Advocacy Resource Group VIKASH-SAMUKHYA
Village Health Action
Vivir. Participacion, Incidencia y Transparencia, A.C.
WACI Health
WaterAid America
WECARe+ (Women in Europe and Central Asia Regions plus)
Wemos
What To Expect Project
White Ribbon Alliance
Women Deliver
Women in Global Health
Working Fingers International Initiative World Child Cancer
World Child Cancer USA
World Merit Burundi
World Organization of Family Doctors Youth and Environment Vision (YEV) Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (YCSRR)
Youth Initiative for the Promotion of Good Leadership in Nigeria
Arlene G. Cohen, Retired University of Guam Associate Professor, Outreach Librarian
Mr. Arush Lai
Dr. Asmaa Quessar
Barbara B. Crane
Barbara J. Rawlins, Senior Measurement and Learning Advisor
Barbara Kennedy, USAID Retired Senior Foreign Service Officer
Ben salah Slim, Pediatric Surgeon Bentoe Zoogley Tehoungue
Berj A. Hatjian
Bethany Arnold
Blake Alkire
Carleena Bhaduri
Carol J Dabbs
Carrie Golitko, MD
Ms. Casey Adams
Catherine Duggan, PhD
Ms. Catherine Fogle
Catriona Gates
Charlene Reynolds, Public Health Professional
Christina Johnson
Cindy Sousa, PhD, MPH, MSW
Craig D. McClain
Cristina Clare O’Brien
Cynthia A. Judge
Dan Mayer, MD
Daniel Scott Corlew
Daralin Parker Beckett
Mr. David Ekpenyong ita
Dr. Edward Mberu
Ms. Elise Mann
Elizabeth Arlotti-Parish, public health professional
Elizabeth O’Connell
Miss Elizabeth Oladipo
Ms. Elizabeth Talatu Williams
Ellen Landsberger, MD
Dr. Elvira Beracochea
Emily Carnahan, MPH
Eric A. Ottesen, M.D.
Dr. Esther Njoroge-Muriithi
Felicity Young
Gary D. Robinson
Mr. Getachew Gebreselassie
Ghada Muhjazi
Girija Sankar, Global Health Professional Gisa Dang
Harri Vainio
Dr. Hasanain Nassrullah
Heather Haq, MD, MHS
Henry B Perry
Hoda Rashad
Hugh Taylor
Mr. Ian Wishart, Chief Executive Officer, The Fred Hollows Foundation
Ms. Iris Isabel López V
Isa Galhordas Duarte Alves
Isaac Solomon, MD, PhD
Dr. Ishteiwi Abuzayed
Israa Hashem Shafi
Ms. Jacqueline Bell James Andrew Elliott James G. Ricca Jamila Z Lafta
Ms. Jane Bruning (ONZM)
Janette Samaan
Jessica Les, MD, MSc,
Dr. Jo Anne Bennett
Jocelyn DeJong, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon
Ms. Jodi Lynn Grahl
Joel G. Breman, MD, DTPH, FIDSA, FASTMH, President of American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
John Manirakiza
Jonathan D. Klein
Professor Joseph Ana
Dr. Justin Koonin
Joy Riggs-Perla
K. Wolf, MPH
Karen Goraleski, CEO, American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
Dr. Karin Greiner
Karine Nankam, Program Officer Kathleen G. Hill
Ms. Katy Cooper
Kee B. Park, MD, MPH
Ms. Kendra Glueck
Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli
Miss Kristine Yakhama
Laura Braga
Laura C. Altobelli
Lauri Romanzi, MD, PScPH
Lawrence N Shulman, MD
Leah Hart, Nurse Practitioner
Lindokuhle Sibiya
Lisa Goldman – Van Nostrand
Ms. Lucy O’Hare
Dr. MC Gordinou
Mr. Malcolm Brewster
Dr. Marco Bardus
Dr. Manal Mohammed Younus
Mrs. Margaret Flanagan
Margaret Neuse
Mark A Strand
Mark Shrime
Mary Anne Mercer
Mary Sebert, RN, MPH, Director of Global Nursing
Megan Christofield
Meghan Greeley, Global Health Professional
Michael P. Tarnok
Dr Miriam Orcutt, Senior Research Fellow, UCL Institute for Global Health Mr. Mo Barry
Mohamad Almalla, Policy Officer Mohammed Hassar
Dr. Mohammed Khaldi
Mohammad Wefqy Godah, MD, MPH Monica Kerrigan
Myra Betron, Global Health Professional Dr. N. Rostami
Nancy E. Williamson
Dr. Neil Pakenham-Walsh
Nicolas Parkhill
Noor Salah Hashim
Norbert Hirschhorn, MD
Ms. Nour Georges Massouh
Nuhad Dumit
Mr. Oghenekome Richard Atoreze
Dr. Ola ghaleb ahmad alahdab
Omar Mohamed Elmorsy Elmorsy
Dr. Ophira Ginsburg
Dr. Oyere Onuma
Patricia Daoust, RN, MSN, FAAN
Paul Freeman
Paul Holmes
Dr. Pilar Estebanez
Rachel Waxman, MPH, USAID Grantee Rawan AlHeresh
Renate Sabrina Rimek
Renee Fiorentino
Richard P Moser, MD, FACS
Richard Wamai, Associate Professor
Rick Lu
Rose Schneider, RN BSN MPH
Ms. Ruth Davidge
Dr. Ruth Webb
Sabine D’Haeseleer
Samar Noureddine
Samer Jabbour
Dr. Sanemba Fanny
Sara Romero
Sarah Cullen, Senior Program Coordinator
Sharon Epstein, Retired, Global Health/Foreign Service, USAID Stephanie Palmer
Suzanne Stalls, CNM
Dr. Tamara Adrian
Ms. Tatiana Elghossain
Terry McGovern, Director Global Health Justice and Governance, Columbia University
Mr. Thomas Schwarz, Executive Secretary, MMI Network
Tom Gresnigt, MD
Tracy Eastman
Tracy Woodman
Dr.Tusharkanti Dey, Epidemiologist
Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje
Mrs. Verónica Fernández
Wadie M Y Elmadhoun
William Harkness FRCS
Ziyad Tariq Ahmad, Senior of Internal Medicine