Impact
Sandro Galea, M.D., dean of the Boston University School of Public Health, and chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, said the decision to withdraw from the W.H.O., “is shortsighted at best and, at worst, willfully destructive. It places global public health at needless risk and leaves us vulnerable to the next pandemic. It helps ensure that when the next virus comes—and we know it will, just like we knew we would one day face something like Covid-19—the conditions will be ripe for it to be even worse than the present challenge.”
Galea’s Association reaffirmed that the American academic public health community will continue to engage with the W.H.O. regardless of this country’s official membership status.”
Anyone paying attention knows the U.S. has been withdrawing from international collaborations under the current administration. This is the first withdrawal from a major medical organization.
There is some question as to whether the president can withdraw from the W.H.O. under his own authority. But the president can withhold the funding until Congress challenges his action.
President Trump said he will redirect funds to unspecified global public health needs.
Interdependent World
Pulitzer-Prize winning The New York Times editorial columnist Tom Friedman reminded us of the interdependence of our world.
“As the world gets more deeply intertwined, everyone’s behavior—the values that each of us bring to this interdependent world—matters more than ever. And, therefore, so does the ‘Golden Rule.’ It has never been more important.”
“Do unto others as you wish them to do unto you, because more people in more places in more ways on more days can now do unto you and you unto them like never before.”
“Who knew that there were regular direct flights from Wuhan, China, to America?”
