Summary

The World Health Organization (WHO) is freezing recruitment, restricting travel, and cutting expenses following the U.S. withdrawal, its largest funding source.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned staff of worsening financial pressures and announced measures such as limiting technical missions, virtual-only meetings, renegotiating contracts, and halting office refurbishments.

Critics, like global health consultant Fifa Rahman, say the U.S. move harms global health preparedness.

Italy’s Deputy PM Matteo Salvini has also proposed withdrawing from the WHO, though Italy’s Prime Minister has not taken a stance.

  • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
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    6 days ago

    The WHO showed themselves not fit for purpose blah blah blah

    The WHO is an international political organization. If you think they don’t have to be careful about “biting hands that feed them” then you’re deluded. It’s not like they have a military they can use to backup demands. That does not mean that the WHO is not an overall “net good” to the world.

    “Things are slightly better with this in place” is about as good a result as you will EVER get from an international organization.

    • shoulderoforion@fedia.io
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      6 days ago

      tens of millions of people died, bad, because the WHO ran cover for China. “biting the hand that feeds them” absolute buffoonery

      • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
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        6 days ago

        You, just prior to this, correctly pointed out that it was China’s fault. You just seem mad because the WHO didn’t tweet at 3AM like Trump would and start blaming China. That’s not their goal (the WHO is not a judiciary body) and would have been entirely ineffective and likely counter-productive.

        • wewbull@feddit.uk
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          6 days ago

          The WHO squandered multiple opportunities to investigate and understand COVID better because it was afraid of “biting the hand that feeds it”. It lost it’s independence in the exact situation it needs to be independent. Money bought a blind eye. That’s called corruption.

          Now, that doesn’t mean Trumps corrupt arse is withdrawing from WHO for the right reasons, but it’s perfectly reasonable to be critical of the WHO after COVID

          • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
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            6 days ago

            What opportunities? What authority do you think the WHO has that doesn’t come from UN member states of which China is a major player?

            WHO: Hi China - we would like to access your facilities and study a possible new virus.
            
            China: No.
            
            WHO: ....
            

            What do you imagine the WHO does now?

            • wewbull@feddit.uk
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              5 days ago

              So your argument against me saying their investigation was bought is to tell me that they’re just powerless and perfunctory?

              Fine, I’ll let you win that one.

              • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
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                5 days ago

                What do you expect? They have all of the power the UN gives them. They don’t exist to enforce anything but to coordinate efforts between states. It’s the WHO not the NWO.

                But answer my question, China says “no” - what do you, as head of the WHO, do next? What is it you think they can do?