As sudden budget cuts have a serious impact on global health funding, long-term conflicts around the world are driving the outbreak of disease and pose a serious threat to public health, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Thursday.
“We live through the greatest disruption of memorable global health funding,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyus, Director of the Department.
He warned that the sudden withdrawal of fundraising is putting hard-working medical advances at risk, including efforts re-emerging in several regions, including efforts to combat tropical diseases.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” he told journalists to his headquarters in Geneva.
Outbreaks intensify
Since January, Angola has faced the worst cholera outbreak in 20 years, with over 17,000 cases and over 550 deaths recorded so far.
There is insufficient access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
Tedros said that as who and partners are running a massive vaccination campaign, one of their priorities is to lower mortality.
Amidst the funding cuts, progress in addressing neglected tropical diseases affecting more than a billion people disproportionately affecting the poorest and marginalized communities.
Reduced access
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Access to health care has declined significantly in many countries where anxiety is widespread and hospitals are targeted, Tedros continued.
On April 22nd, Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais, one of Haiti’s largest public hospitals, was forced to close due to violence. He said more than 40% of medical facilities will remain closed in the capital Port-au-Prince.
No needless death
Turning to Gaza’s lockdown, he said the situation was “devastatingly bad” in which violence “driving an influx of victims into an already kneeling health system.”
While essential medicines, as well as trauma and medical supplies, “people are dying from preventable diseases while medicines are waiting at the border,” Tedros said.
Repeated calls from the United Nations for a ceasefire, Tedros added, “Peace is the best medicine.”
