US Secretary of States Mike Pompeo, has hinted at granting exemptions to seven countries, including Pakistan from World Health Organization (WHO) funding ban.
According to details, State Department officials have informed the National Security Council that WHO is a key player in the fight against polio and COVID-19 coronavirus in seven countries which include Afghanistan, Egypt, Libya, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria and Turkey.
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“Pompeo’s recommendation reflects the reality that no other group has the infrastructure or relationship with local governments to get the job done in those places,” said a State Department official.
The official further added that Secretary of States Mike Pompeo’s recommendation back the idea that an overall ban on WHO funding would be counterproductive to US interests in fighting these viruses globally.
The United States contribute more than US$ 400 million annually to WHO. However, US President Donald Trump has accused the Geneva based organization of being ‘China-centric’ and siding with China on COVID-19 outbreak.
US President had earlier announced
to cut US funding to the organization citing WHO’s “role in severely
mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.”
