The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, presented to member countries an analysis of the changes and actions implemented by the organization in recent years, thus dismantling the reasons put forward by the United States government for its withdrawal. Tedros detailed a series of measures that refute the accusations of a lack of urgent reforms, excessive quotas, and alleged political interference, demonstrating that the WHO has carried out significant reforms in the last seven years.
During the WHO Executive Board meeting, Tedros mentioned that 85 reforms have been adopted out of a total of 97 proposals presented by member states, which has impacted all areas of work and management of the organization. Reinforcing the independence of the WHO, efforts have been made to reduce dependence on traditional donors, which is a crucial point in the ongoing transformation.
Regarding allegations of disproportionate payments by the United States, Tedros stated that there is a goal to decrease this excessive dependence on a few traditional donors, proposing an increase in mandatory contributions from states to the WHO budget. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tedros recalled the promptness with which the WHO reacted, from the first alerts regarding what was reported by China as a "viral pneumonia," working on guidelines for the protection of countries.
In response to claims of Chinese influence over the WHO, Tedros reaffirmed the organization's impartiality and its mission to serve all countries based on scientific evidence. Finally, he extended an invitation to President Donald Trump to reconsider his decision and establish a dialogue aimed at preserving and strengthening the relationship between both parties.
