On Day One of his presidency, Donald Trump signed an executive order formalising the United States' withdrawal from the World Health Organisation.
In response to the Trump administration's order, the UN health agency has highlighted that the United States is a founding member of the organisation and hopes it will reconsider its decision to leave.
"For over seven decades, WHO and the USA have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats. Together, we ended smallpox, and together we have brought polio to the brink of eradication. American institutions have contributed to and benefited from membership in WHO," reads the official statement.
"We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe," the UN health agency added further.
Donald Trump Signs Order To Withdraw From WHO
On his first day back from the White House, Trump signed a series of executive orders ranging from bringing an end to birthright citizenship in the US to its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organisation.
Trump's primary reason for pulling out of the UN health agency is due to its " “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises."
The US is also the largest funder of the World Health Organisation and contributes to around 18 percent of WHO's overall funding.
