Withdrawal from WHO will have long-term impact

Among his first acts of office, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 194-nation World Health Organization. This decision will likely have long-term, momentous consequences for Americans and the people around the world.

The WHO was created after WW II to promote and to expand public health coverage, especially in undeveloped nations, to prevent the spreading of disease, to support research on potential pandemics and to coordinate the response to world medical emergencies. The U.S. was a charter member. The WHO played a critical role in the eradication of smallpox and the campaign against polio saving millions of lives. Over the years, the U.S. has provided up to 20% of its funding.

The so-called Spanish Flu epidemic from 1918-1921 illustrates the importance of having a worldwide effort to prevent the spread of disease. Conservative estimates are that between 17 million and 50 million people worldwide but possibly as many as 100 million died from the pandemic.

The growth of the world population increases the potential of spreading diseases. In addition, since the Spanish Flu Pandemic, world travel by vacation cruise lines, jet airplanes, automobiles and other forms of transportation have greatly increased the exposure and spread of disease around the world.

The COVID pandemic is a wakeup call. Today, we face the much greater potential for more frequent pandemics and millions dying. We are not immune to the spread of diseases outside the U.S.

All Americans, whether they voted for Trump or not, should be outraged at his decision to withdraw from the WHO. In the modern world, we need the WHO; millions of lives are at stake.

Thomas Suhrbur

Glen Ellyn