The text discusses the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Trump administration. The author criticizes the WHO, accusing it of being biased towards China and criticizing its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The author also points out the significant financial contributions the U.S. makes to the WHO, arguing that the U.S. should have more influence over the organization's decisions.
The author explains that the U.S. has been a significant contributor to the WHO, paying between $400 to $500 million a year, compared to China's $38 to $40 million. The author criticizes the WHO for not enabling the U.S. to have more influence over its operations and for not being more independent in its decision-making.
The author also discusses the WHO's role in global health, highlighting its efforts in eradicating diseases like smallpox and developing the seasonal flu vaccine. However, the author points out that the WHO lacks the power to enforce its recommendations and relies on the cooperation of member nations.
The author concludes by expressing concern over the potential negative impact of the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO, especially in the context of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The author warns that the U.S. cannot replace the WHO's global role and that the decision to leave the WHO is one of the most ill-advised actions the U.S. could take during this time.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The main topic of the text is the World Health Organization (WHO) and its role in global health issues.
2. The text criticizes President Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the WHO in the midst of a pandemic.
3. The text provides examples of the WHO's achievements, such as eradicating smallpox, developing the seasonal flu vaccine, and tracking and responding to dozens of infectious disease outbreaks.
4. The text acknowledges some of the WHO's mistakes and limitations, such as acting too slowly to declare a public health emergency during the Ebola outbreak, taking too long to advise universal mask wearing and airborne transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic, and being deferential to China on some issues.
5. The text argues that the U.S. pays more than China to the WHO because of its own choice and a flawed funding system that it helped create, and that the U.S. cannot do what the WHO does on its own or without cooperation from other countries.
6. The text warns that leaving the WHO could endanger the U.S. and global health security, especially as the WHO is close to eradicating polio, and urges the U.S. to stay in the organization and try to fix its problems instead of blowing it up.
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