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“Too early to comment on projects in SL after US decision to cut WHO funding”: WHO
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A logo is pictured at the World Health Organization (WHO) building in Geneva, Switzerland, February 2, 2020. (Reuters/Denis Balibouse/File)
The Sri Lanka Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that it is too early to comment on a threat by US President Donald Trump to slash by half the United States funding to the organization.
“It is still too early to determine how, or if, the United States’ decision to cut funding will affect WHO programmes in Sri Lanka,” said the WHO Representative to Sri Lanka, Dr Razia Pendse, when asked by the Sunday Times what impact the US funding-cuts would have on the country.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that he would suspend funding for the WHO, alleging that it had mismanaged the COVID-19 pandemic, had been slow to respond to the crisis, and was China-centric.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak in Sri Lanka, the WHO’s efforts are largely focused on supporting the country in its response to COVID-19, it is learnt.
“The WHO has provided support to the Government in the implementation of the interim Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan. This plan has been prepared using global WHO guidance documents, with the goal of interrupting the transmission of the virus from one person to another using a comprehensive blended approach of containment and mitigation,” said Dr Pendse.
The plan covers the nine pillars of Country-level Coordination, Planning and Monitoring; Risk Communication and Community Engagement; Surveillance, Risk Assessment and Rapid Response; Points of Entry (PoE); National Laboratories; Case Management; Infection Prevention and Control (IPC); Operational Support and Logistics; and Maintain Delivery of Essential Health Services during an outbreak.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Times learns that the WHO’s work in Sri Lanka focuses on ensuring universal health coverage, protecting people from health emergencies and promoting healthier populations.
“Our work also prioritizes the Regional Flagship Priorities and the ‘Sustain, Accelerate and Innovate’ agenda within the framework of Sri Lanka’s Country Cooperation Strategy 2018-2023,” said Dr Pendse.
She said that the WHO will continue to provide technical support to Sri Lanka’s primary healthcare reorganization, in addition to strengthening preparedness, mitigation, resilience and rapid response to disasters and emergencies.
“Addressing the social, cultural, environmental and commercial determinants of health will also be the key strategy moving forward to address the NCD (non-communicable disease) epidemic and promote healthy ageing. The Country Office will also continue to spur efforts to further improve maternal and child health and combat stubborn communicable disease,” she added.
Earlier this week, United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe wrote to the US President urging him to reverse his decision saying it would adversely impact on WHO support to many developing countries including Sri Lanka.