A Global Health Organization in Crisis

The World Health Organization is in a tough spot. The United States, once its biggest supporter, has cut off funding. This has left the WHO scrambling to find other ways to pay for its work. The WHO's leader, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has asked other countries to step up and help out. He pointed out that the WHO's yearly budget is just $2. 1 billion. It is a small amount compared to what countries spend on military equipment. The WHO has a big job. It works in 150 countries to improve health. It gives advice on everything from how much sugar should be in drinks to how to handle diseases like COVID-19. But with less money coming in, it's hard for the WHO to do its job properly. The United States used to give the WHO a lot of money. Now, other wealthy countries are also giving less. They are worried about other things, like Russia's actions. The WHO has had to cut its budget for the next two years by 22%. It has found some money, but it still needs $1. 7 billion more. The WHO's leader says that $2. 1 billion a year is not a lot of money. It is a small price to pay for the work the WHO does. He compared it to the cost of a military plane. He asked why countries spend so much on weapons but not enough on health. Some experts think other countries are using the US cut as an excuse to give less money. They say this could lead to many unnecessary deaths. The WHO is also trying to get countries to agree on a plan for the next pandemic. They want to make sure the world is ready and that everyone gets help equally. The WHO is also asking countries to increase their yearly payments. This would help the WHO have more stable money and not rely so much on gifts from governments. The WHO is in a tough situation. It needs money to do its important work. But with less money coming in, it's hard to keep up. The WHO's leader has asked other countries to help out. He has also asked them to think about what's truly valuable. The WHO has a big job. It works to improve health around the world. But it needs help to do it properly.