WHO boss fears millions of deaths by US funding stop

From the perspective of the World Health Organization (WHO), the reduction of US aid funds leads to massive steps back in the global struggle against fatal diseases such as malaria or HIV. If the support from the United States remains, this could already lead to 15 million additional malaria cases and around 107,000 additional malaria dead, this year warned WHO boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Geneva.

According to Tedros, missing US funds already lead to bottlenecks in the prevention and treatment of malaria and HIV/AIDS. The interruption of HIV projects could lead to three million HIV deaths, more than three times as much as last year, said Tedros.

Global network of measles laboratories before the end

He also warned of stepping back in the fight against tuberculosis and measles. A global network of more than 700 measles and reddish laboratories, which was financed exclusively by the United States, « is about to end, » said Tedros.

His forecasts referred to the drastic financial cuts to the development authority USAID and other US institutions that support health projects in other countries. US President Donald Trump has also announced the emergence of the United States from the WHO, which will lead to painful financial restrictions on the UN health organization.

The United States had the right to decide how and to what extent they help, said Tedros. « But the United States is also responsible for ensuring that its direct financial aid is ordered and withdrawn human so that countries can find alternative sources of financing, » he warned.