AWE Media Sierra Leone

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson The World Health Organization (WHO) has reacted with regret and concern to the United States’ notification of withdrawal from the global health body, warning that the move undermines not only America’s own safety but the security of the wider world. In a statement issued on Monday, January 26, WHO recalled that the United States is a founding member of the organization and has played a pivotal role in many of its most important successes. From the eradication of smallpox to sustained progress against polio, HIV, Ebola, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria and other major public health threats, US support has long been central to WHO’s work. Against this history, WHO said the decision to withdraw represents a serious loss, and that the withdrawal notification by the US raises legal and procedural questions that will be reviewed by the WHO Executive Board at its meeting starting on 2 February, and later by the World Health Assembly at its annual session in May 2026. ...