Ghetto imagesHIV, polio, MPOX and bird flu programs are affected by the freezing of tens of billions of dollars from the US overseas care, says the World Health Organization (WHO).
US President Donald Trump has taken steps to close the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), arguing that his costs are “completely inexplicable”.
However, the Chief D -R Tedros Adhanom Gebreyes has called on the Trump Administration to consider the resumption of funding for assistance until other decisions are found.
HIV treatment and other services have been violated in 50 countries, he said at a briefing on Wednesday.
Speaking publicly for the first time about freezing funding for help in the United States, a virtual press conference in Geneva, Dr. Tedros said: “There are actions that the US government is taking … which we worry have a serious impact on global health. “
In particular, he pointed to the suspension of the Pepfar, the president's emergency plan to alleviate AIDS, which he said stopped the HIV treatment, testing and prevention services in 50 countries.
He added that the restoration of life -saving services did not stop the interruption.
“The clinics are closed and health workers are put on vacation,” said Dr. Tedros.
Global Health experts have warned the spread of the disease, as well as delay the development of vaccines and new treatments as a result of cuts.
Trump claims that USAID is “incompetent and corrupt.”
He recently announced huge cuts of 10,000 strong workforce of the agency and the immediate suspension of almost all his help programs.
The agency spends about $ 40 billion (£ 32 billion) – about 0.6% of total US annual government spending – for humanitarian aid, many of which go to health programs.
Most USAID money is spent in Asia, Africa of Subsahara and Europe, where it is used mainly for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
Elon Musk, the technology billionaire who works on the Efforts of the White House to shrink the size of the federal government, had previously stated that the Aid Agency was a “criminal organization”.
Neither Trump nor Musk provided clear evidence to support their claims.
As well as the freezing of USAID, President Trump has taken steps to withdraw the US from the WHO.
According to the Biden Administration, the United States was the largest financier of the United Nations Health Agency and in 2023 it contributed almost one fifth of the agency's budget.
Dr. Tedros said Trump's decision affects cooperation between the parties to global health threats. He also said the United States has reduced the reporting of bird flu cases in humans.
The WHO says he used emergency measures similar to those used during the Covid pandemic to fill gaps where there is a shortage – for example, in life -saving antiretroviral drugs used to treat people living with HIV.
Meg Doherty, Director of Global HIV, Hepatitis and Programs for Sexuals (STI) in the WHO, said efforts were being made to coordinate the sharing of vital supplies of drugs between the countries.
However, she said that a better, long-term solution is needed: “We are seeking support from a state sharing country, but this is a short-term approach.”