No time to waste, WHO’s focus on saving lives, says chief after US freezes funding

at 7:09 pm
COVAX
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

New Delhi (NVI): The World Health Organisation, which has been accused by US President Donald Trump of “covering up” on the coronavirus pandemic, today said that its singular focus is on working to save lives and stop COVID-19, so there is no time to waste.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a tweet: “There is no time to waste. @WHO’s singular focus is on working to serve all people to save lives and stop the #COVID19 pandemic”.

The WHO’s reaction comes after UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres crticised Trump for freezing US funds to WHO, saying this is not the time to reduce resources for the health body when the world is facing the coronavirus pandemic.

Addressing a briefing in Washington yesterday, Trump had said: “Today, I am instructing my Administration to halt funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organisation’s role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of coronavirus.”

At the White House news conference, Trump said, “The WHO failed in this basic duty and must be held accountable”.

The Trump administration has accused WHO of taking side with China in the coronavirus outbreak that has brought America’s economy to a standstill, according reports in US media.