The Colorado Public Health Association (CPHA) stands in unison with the American Public Health Association (APHA) in opposing the Trump administration’s decision to halt funding to the World Health Organization (WHO). These funds provide valuable resources to offer aid in fighting COVID-19, for which the benefits are global reaching. Click here to read the press release from APHA in support of WHO. APHA opposes Trump move to cut essential WHO fundingDate: Apr 14 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, D.C., April 14, 2020 – The American Public Health Association stands in solidarity with the World Health Organization and denounces the Trump administration's decision to halt U.S. funding. Ending U.S. contributions to WHO will cripple the world's response to COVID-19 and could harm the health and lives of thousands of Americans. "WHO is in a race to treat, test and protect people from the devastation of COVID-19. Its leadership in combatting COVID-19 has been indispensable, irreplaceable and decisive," said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, APHA's executive director. "Getting ahead of this virus requires a rapid global response and the coordination of multiple countries," Benjamin said. "It is only with this coordination that we can accelerate the pace of research and generate the critical science-based evidence that is needed to save the lives of people in the U.S. and around the world. "We must be singularly focused on using all of our assets, including WHO, to get in front of this insidious virus." WHO's work is critical for:
"Now is not the time to undermine WHO's vital work," Benjamin said. "There will be a time for lessons learned once this pandemic is over. WHO has expressed a full willingness to participate in a thorough review of what has worked and what has not as we have raced to stop this disease, and we support their inclusion. "Any effort to remove funding from WHO, particularly in this time of crisis, would be a crime against humanity and endanger the health of Americans and people around the world." ### The American Public Health Association champions the health of all people and all communities. We are the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. Learn more at www.apha.org. |