In response to the news that the U.S. government is to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), HelpAge stands in solidarity with the WHO and the vital role it plays in keeping the world safe, supporting those most at risk.
Cherian Mathews, Chief Executive of HelpAge International, expressed his solidarity with WHO and endorsed the critical role they play in ensuring the world’s health—including older people’s.
“It is only through the work of WHO that we can hope to see a world where everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health.
We are proud to collaborate with WHO as a non-state actor in official relations with them. Their role is critical to advancing the dignity, well-being, and rights of older people everywhere, particularly in development and humanitarian settings. It is imperative that this decision does not undermine or compromise their ability to respond rapidly in humanitarian crises or to international outbreaks of disease.
“For older people, their leadership on the Decade of Healthy Ageing cannot be underestimated as an initiative that benefits communities across the world. By engaging UN member states and wider stakeholders, it underscores HelpAge’s alignment with the mission of WHO in striving to ensure that all older people have the opportunity to enjoy health and well-being.
“The withdrawal of the U.S. from WHO is a significant blow to the organization’s work, and the delivery of the ambitious goals laid out in the Fourteenth Global Programme of Work. It undermines their work to ensure the health and safety of people and communities everywhere, including in the U.S.
“The announcement that the U.S. will cease negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement and the amendments to the International Health Regulations is a further blow to global health security.”
