The World Health Organization (WHO) is an indispensable part of the United Nations (UN) system, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General, said at a press conference on Tuesday, highlighting the WHO's crucial role in addressing global health issues.
Dujarric's remarks came in response to a video shown to global health officials meeting on Tuesday for the WHO's annual assembly in Geneva, in which U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticized the WHO as "moribund" and encouraged other countries to join the U.S. in withdrawing from the specialized UN agency.
"WHO is an indispensable part of the UN system. I think anyone can see and understand that issues of global health do not respect borders. Viruses cross national lines very quickly. We saw it with COVID-19. The only way to deal with global health issues is by member states getting around the table and dealing with it in a scientific way -- not a political way -- in a science-based manner. And WHO provides that platform," Dujarric said.
On January 20, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the WHO and suspending future transfers of funds, support, and resources to the organization.
It marked the second time the country had ordered its withdrawal from the WHO.
During the final year of Trump's first presidency, the Trump administration formally notified the UN on July 6, 2020 of its withdrawal from the WHO, which would take effect a year later.
However, President Joe Biden reversed the decision on January 20, 2021, the first day of his presidential term.
WHO an indispensable part of UN system: UN chief spokesman
WHO an indispensable part of UN system: UN chief spokesman
WHO an indispensable part of UN system: UN chief spokesman
