Michael Gwarisa
Argentina has announced its official withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) citing irreparable differences.
Through his official X account, Argentina’s presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni said they had significant disagreements with WHO regarding management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the same reason given by US President Donald Trump for exiting the global health body.
“President (Javier) Milei instructed the foreign minister to withdraw Argentina’s participation in the World Health Organization,” he said.
He further argued that the WHO’s prolonged measures during the pandemic constituted a “crime against humanity.”
The United States formalised its WHO withdrawal in January, a year after Trump signed an executive order to exit the multinational grouping on his return to the White House.
“Argentina will continue to promote international cooperation in health through bilateral agreements and regional forums, while fully preserving its sovereignty and its capacity to make decisions regarding health policies,” Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said on X.
Last year, Argentina had declared that “the WHO’s recommendations are ineffective because they are not based on science, but on political interests.”
WHO has played a role in eradicating smallpox and tackling public health threats like polio, HIV, Ebola and tuberculosis.
