Dr. Anthony Fauci’s rapid engagement with the WHO, whose response to the pandemic has been criticized by many, but perhaps with more voice from the Trump administration, marks a dramatic and vocal shift toward a more cooperative approach to fight the pandemic.
“I am honored to announce that the United States will continue to be a member of the World Health Organization,” Fauci said at a WHO virtual meeting from the United States, where it was 4:10 in Washington. It was the first public statement by a member of the Biden administration at an international hearing, and a sign of the new president’s priority of fighting COVID-19 both at home and with global partners.
A few hours after Biden took office on Wednesday, he wrote a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres, saying the US had reversed the planned withdrawal from the WHO which was expected to take effect in July. .
The withdrawal from the WHO was rich in symbolism, another example of U.S. independent strategy under Trump. But it also had practical ramifications: the United States stopped funding the UN health agency, removing cash from the country that has long been its largest donor just when the agency was fighting the health crisis that killed more than 2 million people worldwide. The United States had also withdrawn staff from the organization.
Fauci said the Biden administration will resume “regular engagement” with WHO and “fulfill its financial obligations to the organization.”
The WHO chief and others jumped in to welcome U.S. announcements.
“This is a good day for the WHO and a good day for global health,” said Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The role of the United States, its role, the global role is very, very crucial.”
The two men hinted at a warm relationship between them, with Fauci calling Tedros his “dear friend” and Tedros referred to Fauci as “my brother Tony.”
The White House said last Thursday that Vice President Kamala Harris had discussed many of the same issues that Fauci raised in a call with Tedros.
But he stressed the need to strengthen the global response to COVID-19, “mitigate its side impacts, including women and girls,” and work to “prevent the next outbreak from becoming an epidemic or pandemic,” he said. the White House to a statement.
“In addition, the vice president stressed the importance of making America safer through global cooperation,” he added, highlighting Washington’s new tone.
John Nkengasong, director of the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called the renewed commitment “big news” in an email. “The world has always been a better place when the United States plays a leading role in solving global health problems, including the fight against HIV / AIDS, malaria, polio, and other diseases,” he said.
Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke wrote on Facebook: “This will have a huge impact on the world’s ability to fight the pandemic. It is crucial that the United States get involved as a driving force and not as a country seeking the way out when a world catastrophe breaks out ”.
Fauci also said that Biden will publish a directive on Thursday that demonstrates the United States’ intention to join the COVAX facility, a project to deploy COVID-19 vaccines to people in need around the world, whether in rich countries or poor.
Under Trump, the United States had been the highest-ranking participants in the COVAX facility, which has struggled to achieve its goals of distributing millions of vaccines due to logistical and financial difficulties.
The WHO and the leaders of many developing countries have repeatedly expressed concern that the poorest places may be the last to obtain vaccines against COVID-19, while noting that leaving large areas of the world’s population without vaccination puts everyone at risk.
While promising support from the United States, Fauci also noted some key challenges facing the WHO. He said the United States was committed to “transparency, including the events surrounding the early days of the pandemic.”
One of the Trump administration’s biggest criticisms was that the WHO reacted too slowly to the outbreak in Wuhan, China, and was too accepting and too effusive about the Chinese government’s response. Others have also shared these criticisms, but public health experts and many countries have argued that while the organization needs reform, it remains vital.
Referring to a WHO-led probe looking for the origins of the coronavirus by a team currently in China, Fauci said, “International research should be solid and clear and we look forward to evaluating it.” .
He said the US would work with the WHO and partner countries to “strengthen and reform” the agency, without providing details.
At the White House later, Fauci told Jeff Zients, who directs the national response to the coronavirus, “You can imagine the comments we received from people at the WHO.”
Then he added, in a raspy voice, “They were lining up to thank …”
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Cara Anna, Associated Press writer, in Nairobi, Kenya; Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.