The Director General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said: “Withdrawal of funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) will be a huge price for humanity to pay.”
Dr Ihekweazu made the assertion on Thursday while answering questions on the WHO COVID-19 Africa Media briefing held in Geneva, Switzerland.
He spoke against the withdrawal of American President, Donald Trump, against the financial support to the world health body.
The WHO COVID-19 Africa Media aim at taking a look at how Africa is handling the COVID-19 pandemic with focus on the situation in Nigeria.
The media briefing was organised with the support of the World Economic Forum as part of the COVID-19 Action Platform and how to minimise its impact in Africa.
“WHO’s slow reaction in raising the alarm over the global threat from the Coronavirus and being too “China-centric” in its response” made Trump redraw from funding WHO.
On the orders of Trump, the United States, one of the key founding members and the largest donor to WHO, announced its intention to freeze its funding for the agency, pending a review of WHO’s actions during the Coronavirus pandemic. The review could last for up to three months.
President Trump’s administration has been increasingly critical of the agency, which for months has guided the world in how to tackle the deadly Coronavirus.
Dr. Ihekweazu said that the operations of WHO was so critical to the survival of the continent and beyond, hence, there must be adequate support to the organisation.
“If funding to WHO is affected in a way, it means that there will be a huge price for humanity to pay and all of us in this side of the world. I hope everyone around the world will come together to support the organisation, not just by speaking, but by funding the organisation.”
“The funding of WHO is so important to all, and it is hard to explain to someone outside the continent how it is.”
“We really rely on them for guidance because of the work they do, and we don’t have the luxury to build up the infrastructure and knowledge on our own and expertise they offer.
“WHO is critical to our collective survival in Africa and the world. A price will be paid, and I hope we don’t get to that stage,” he said.
“Nigeria has a lot to learn after the COVID-19 experience, which he said would help the country to scale-up its healthcare infrastructure and services.
“We don’t have the luxury at not paying attention to the work we are doing now. Everything we are doing now should solve the short time problem and long term.”
“Secondly, it should help us build a better tomorrow, so we focus on making choices on investments, we are building capacities for tomorrow.”
“It is a responsibility to build up enduring infrastructure that will last during this crisis,” he added.
