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The Industrial Revolution that started in Britain in the mid-18th century gradually spread all over the world. Years passed by, but perhaps no one would have imagined that the 19th century was waiting with many surprises. It must have been the middle of the 19th century. The world had gone through a new phase of industrialization. But then the world was hit by epidemics like plague, cholera and yellow fever. This incident shook the world. In 1851, the French government organized an international sanitation conference in Paris.
Founded on 7 April
Doctors, scientists and heads of state from all over the world participated in this summit. A total of 14 conferences were held from 1851 to 1938. These conferences concluded that the world needs an international organization that is specifically dedicated to health problems.
In continuation of these efforts, the World Health Organization was established under the United Nations on 7 April 1948. At the time of its establishment, the main priorities of the World Health Organization included issues like malaria, maternal and child health, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, nutrition and environmental hygiene.
Why did America step aside?
- America was also one of the founding member countries of the World Health Organization. If we look at the figures, America was also the country that gave the most funds to WHO. In 2022-23 alone, America gave more than $128 crore to WHO. But as soon as Donald Trump started his second term, it backed out from it.
- The US argues that the World Health Organization showed mismanagement in the management of COVID-19. It also accused the WHO of being politically influenced by China. Now obviously the US withdrawal will create a budget crisis for the World Health Organization.
- However, WHO still wants to put pressure on America to bring it back into the World Health Organization. World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has appealed to member countries to put pressure on America. Let us tell you that Tedros was also in controversy regarding his relations with China.
WHO has been in controversies many times
It is not that the functioning of the World Health Organization was questioned only during the Corona pandemic. According to the US government website National Library of Medicine, the capabilities of the World Health Organization were questioned during the influenza outbreak in 2009 and the Ebola outbreak in 2014.
Let us tell you that the World Health Organization receives funding in two ways. One is Assessed Contribution and the other is Voluntary Contribution. Assessed Contribution means the funding given by the member countries of the World Health Organization. Voluntary Contribution means the fund received for a particular program. Talking about the year 2024-25, the biggest donors to WHO include Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gavi Alliance and European Union after America.
