The African Union has pledged to support the World Health Organisation (WHO), the agency that oversees international public health after the US said it was considering withholding funding to it.
Moussa Faki Mahamat the chair of the African Union Commission, in a Tweet Wednesday, said he was surprised to learn of a campaign by the US government against WHO’s global leadership.
“The focus should remain on collectively fighting Covid19 as a united global community. The time for accountability will come,” said Mahamat.
“The African Union fully supports WHO and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,” he added.
Surprised to learn of a campaign by the US govt against @WHO’s global leadership. The @_AfricanUnion fully supports @WHO and @DrTedros. The focus should remain on collectively fighting #Covid19 as a united global community. The time for accountability will come.
— Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) April 8, 2020
Subsequently, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame came out to disapprove US President Donald Trump remarks criticizing WHO over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kagame said at the moment focus should be on fighting the coronavirus which continues to ravage the world instead of politicization of the crisis
“…Is it Dr. Tedros, WHO, China… under attack or all of them together? Let’s focus on the fight against this pandemic, whoever should be held accountable will come later and done properly. Save us too much politics Africa does not need it. Who does?” posed Kagame.
.@DrTedros as leader of @WHO has the full confidence and support of Africa…as we know it!
— Paul Kagame (@PaulKagame) April 8, 2020
“My message to political parties. Do not politicise this virus. if you care for your people, work across party lines and ideologies,” World Health Organization Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
President Donald Trump on Tuesday alleged that WHO is “China-centric”.
“The W.H.O. really blew it. For some reason, funded largely by the United States, yet very China centric. We will be giving that a good look. Fortunately, I rejected their advice on keeping our borders open to China early on. Why did they give us such a faulty recommendation? President Trump claims.
The W.H.O. really blew it. For some reason, funded largely by the United States, yet very China centric. We will be giving that a good look. Fortunately I rejected their advice on keeping our borders open to China early on. Why did they give us such a faulty recommendation?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 7, 2020
Consequently, World Health Organization Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in his briefing Wednesday said in the recent past, he has been the target of racial remarks and even death threats.
“To me personally, I don’t mind. I prefer to really focus on saving lives,” he said. “Why would I care about being attacked when people are dying?”
“I know that I am just an individual. Tedros is a dot in the universe.”
“If you don’t want many more body bags than you refrain from politicizing it.”
