January 23, 2025 • 12 mins
The World Health Organization called on the US to reconsider President Donald Trump’s decision to exit the agency, suggesting the move could undermine global health security.
On this week’s episode, Bloomberg’s health and consumer reporter Janice Kew joins Jennifer Zabasajja to explain how planned departure would leave the WHO scrambling to replace its top donor, and how losing that funding could put the work that the WHO carries out on containing diseases such as HIV, polio and Ebola as well as a recent outbreak of lethal Marburg virus at risk
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. In his first hours
in office, President Trump signed an executive order to withdraw
the US from the World Health Organization.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
So we paid five hundred million dollars to World Health.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
When I was here and I.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Terminated China with one point four billion people, they were
paying thirty nine million.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
We were paying five hundred million. It seemed a little
unfair to me.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
The WHO has called on Trump to reconsider the order.
The loss of its top donor could put its work
on a Bola, HIV and Marburg at risk.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
For over seven decades, WHSHOW and the United States of
America have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all
people from health threats. We hope the United States will reconsider.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
On today's episode of The Next Africa Podcast, we'll ask
what this could mean for disease prevention in Africa, how
health agencies have reacted, and.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Who else might now step in.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
I'm Jennifer's Abasaja and this is the Next Africa Podcast,
bringing you one story each week from the continent driving
the future of global growth with the context only Bloomberg
can provide. Joining us this week is Bloomberg's Healthcare and
consumer reporter Janis Q who is based here in Johannesburg
with us. Jannis, thanks us always for coming on.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Thank you. It's been a bit of a week, I know.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Right, and we're just getting started with a new administration.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Let's start with the basics here, because many people are
probably aware of what the who was or became aware
of the organization during the COVID pandemic. But maybe you
can spell out exactly what it is that this organization does.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
It's a watchdog, an advice giver, and a hands on
tough organization. That is, it works to contain diseases like
the recent impox, polio and Marlburg virus rex. It also
categorizes the risk of the spread of diseases and that
helps it coordinate global efforts in combating these diseases. It
organizes programs, setting global standards and developing guidelines, so it
(02:14):
performs a lot of functions and rarely pulls together efforts
and funding for global health security.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
And when we zero in on Africa, then Janesh, how
does their work get a bit more targeted?
Speaker 4 (02:27):
So Africa has formed some of humanity's most devastating diseases
yellow fever, HIV, boler lesser among them, and yet the
continent has some of the lowest health spending and fust resources.
The WHOS focus its work on both strengthening health systems
to cope with climate related changes in the spread of
old diseases like malaria, and also prepare as best as
(02:48):
possible for emerging pathogens. With so many competing demands in Africa,
it's hard to single out a single focus, but certainly
some of the biggest disease killers in Africa since the
WHO was formed in nineteen four eight have been malaria, TB,
HIV and diarrhea illnesses such as cholera, So those are
big focus points even today.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
And we had you on a few months ago, Jenna,
speaking about m parks when you mentioned a few of
the other diseases that have sort of proliferated on the continent.
What is that risk here if funding is pulled from
the WHO, especially on the continent.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Well, other than the millions of Africans who will siffer
and die, which really can't be underestimated, there is a
risk of mutated variants that scientists then have to scramble
to understand, and in some cases these variants may not
respond to vaccines and other interventions, so that's a big risk,
and of course the very real risk of global spread.
(03:44):
Even in remote areas in the Congo, people do business
and then they return home to various parts of the
world and spread is real.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
So then it again, as we talk about quite a
bit with diseases, the diseases no no borders.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
So when you talk.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
About globally, this could if we do see the US
actually follow through on this plan to leave the WHO,
this could become a global issue.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Absolutely. The USE is the who's main source of funding,
so the impact will be huge. To put that into context,
if we look at the excitements in nineteen eighty when
smallpox was eradicated, it had taken immense coordinated efforts globally
and funding. So finally ridding the world of something like
HIV is also possible. But as Hiddeny Clark, who chased
(04:33):
the Lancet Advisory Board and Health and Climate Change set
in a panel in DeVos, it will take prioritization, political will,
hard cash, and of course dealing with equity issues. So
without that funding it doesn't work.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Stick with us, Jennis, when we come back, we're going
to talk about what the reaction has been since we
did hear this announcement from President Trump and who if
anyone could actually step in to fill the shortfall, we'll
be right back. Welcome back today on the podcast, we're
talking about President Trump's decision to withdraw the US from
the World Health Organization. JENSQ, our Healthcare and Consumer reporter
(05:11):
is still with us.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
So it's only been a few days, as.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
We were mentioning earlier in the podcast, but there has
been quite a bit of reaction to the news this week.
Have we heard from the WHO? What have some of
these organizations been saying.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
The WHO certainly did put out a statement and it
is a serious concern. We have also heard from governments
in Africas and Bobby's finance minister says he sees two
hundred million dollars of US funding at stick after the decision.
There will likely be small over implications for the US
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief known as PEPFAR and
(05:46):
this program, started twenty years ago by then President George W. Bush,
has arguably been one of the most impactful programs the
US has had and is relied upon in at least
seven countries. Probably aren't actually in Africa. These are serious concerns.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
And so then you're mentioning the funding earlier. The US,
from what we know, provides just over one billion dollars
in funding. Are there other countries that are just as
significant in terms of plugging the funding gap.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
As instan There aren't countries that come anywhere close to
that level of funding, but we have seen interest from
China in helping for the gap and other Asian and
Middle Eastern countries who will likely step up. It's worth
noting that this will also probably increase their influence on
global health, and that is something that I would imagine
many in DC are still weighing up and need to consider.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
What do you mean by that, Janis I mean the
influence of global health? What does that actually look like?
Speaker 4 (06:47):
So some funding goes to the WHO in a broad
context that helps paste off who work at the WHO, etc.
But some funding goes very specifically to certain programs, and
if you've got a country like China who are giving
that funding, some of that funding could be directed to
specific programs and that obviously just changes the influence. Also
(07:11):
when we look at continent like Africa, when you've got
to step away from health for a minute. But when
you've got China building the roads that lead to the mines,
that infrastructure is crucial to many many countries, and China
then gets access to the raw materials. It can be
similar in health, when things are directed very specifically to
(07:33):
certain programs, it can change the influence.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
If we do see President Trump sticking with this promise,
would it have an effect on the other health agencies
on the continent, like the Africa CDC.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
It definitely would. The extent to which it affects them
would have to still be seen. I would imagine that
if President Trump is looking internally more and is less
generous with global issa choose, he will probably pull funding
for a variety of things, and the who could then
(08:06):
be just the start. As I mentioned pep FAR. I
mean that that is an incredibly important program throughout Africa,
and it is directly linked to the US and the
US president and so you know, if he came out
and pulled that, it would have big impacts on other
organizations like Africa CDC if they need to divert funding
(08:30):
from things they are already using, you know, using it
for because they need to plug other gaps. As we've
discussed there are so many competing needs in Africa and
so if anything, there needs to be more funding, not less.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
And is there any help for a U turn from Trump?
I know, we never really know what is coming next.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
What are your sources telling you?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Well, the speed that he came out with this decision
doesn't look particularly promising at the stage. But as you say,
never say never, especially with President Trump's So I would
like to think that ultimately the risks to global health
security surely have to be taken seriously, and those conversations
hopefully will happen.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
And finally, Janis, as we were mentioning, emparks was a
wide concern last year when we were talking about, you know.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Diseases in healthcare on the continent.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
What is the focus now for you, especially now that
we're talking about this news coming from the US potentially,
I mean, what's the focus of the healthcare industry?
Speaker 3 (09:29):
I guess here on the continent.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
So this year in Africa, certainly, IMPOS continues to be
a big issue. Rates of spread of that disease have
not really dropped, and getting vaccines into arms is still
a big issue, especially for children. There are obviously other
diseases across the continents that are concerning. We've recently seen
(09:52):
an outbreak of Marburg in Tanzania. This bleeding fever is
got a high fertility rate and can spread quite easily,
healthcare officials often being at the forefront of the risk
as they're trying to help people. There's also it's been
a long time coming, but climate change is a big
issue in Africa. Arguably, Africa's the hardest hits and the
(10:14):
least responsible for climate change and disease spread changes as
globe bombs up, so we see floods, we see drafts
in areas that previously didn't have these problems, and with
that comes the risk of the spread of cholera and
mosquito borne diseases like malaria and even dingy. These are
(10:36):
our real problems and if anything, they need increased funding.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Jennis, thanks as always for joining us and for your reporting,
and you can read all of our coverage across Bloomberg platforms.
Now here's some of the other stories we've been following
across the region this week. Africa's biggest crude producer, in Nigeria,
has emerged from a year's long output slamp due to
improved secure city creating a quandary for the government.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Stretched public finances badly.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Need the extra revenue that would come from higher oil exports,
but the country is also under pressure to adhere to
OPEC PLUS production limits that have helped keep global crude
prices above seventy dollars a barrel. Analysts predict further growth
in Nigeria's output this year and a possible showdown with
OPEC Plus over the country's.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Quota and Angola.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Plans to sell stakes in its biggest telecommunications company unitel
Essay and two lenders in the coming months to attract investors.
That's according to the Minister of State for Economic Coordination,
Jose de Lima Masano. Masano made the announcement during an
interview with Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum in Davos
late Tuesday. Africa's third largest oil producer, will also dispose
(11:52):
of steaks in Banco de Fomento, Angola, its second largest lender,
and Standard Bank Group's local unit, he told us. And
you can follow these stories across Bloomberg, including the Next
African Newsletter. We'll put a link to that in our
show notes. This program was produced by Adrian Bradley. Don't
(12:15):
forget to follow and review this show wherever you usually
get your podcasts. I'm Jennifer's Abasoga. Thanks as always for listening.
We'll see you next time.
Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. In his first hours
in office, President Trump signed an executive order to withdraw
the US from the World Health Organization.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
So we paid five hundred million dollars to World Health.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
When I was here and I.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Terminated China with one point four billion people, they were
paying thirty nine million.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
We were paying five hundred million. It seemed a little
unfair to me.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
The WHO has called on Trump to reconsider the order.
The loss of its top donor could put its work
on a Bola, HIV and Marburg at risk.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
For over seven decades, WHSHOW and the United States of
America have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all
people from health threats. We hope the United States will reconsider.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
On today's episode of The Next Africa Podcast, we'll ask
what this could mean for disease prevention in Africa, how
health agencies have reacted, and.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Who else might now step in.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
I'm Jennifer's Abasaja and this is the Next Africa Podcast,
bringing you one story each week from the continent driving
the future of global growth with the context only Bloomberg
can provide. Joining us this week is Bloomberg's Healthcare and
consumer reporter Janis Q who is based here in Johannesburg
with us. Jannis, thanks us always for coming on.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Thank you. It's been a bit of a week, I know.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Right, and we're just getting started with a new administration.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Let's start with the basics here, because many people are
probably aware of what the who was or became aware
of the organization during the COVID pandemic. But maybe you
can spell out exactly what it is that this organization does.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
It's a watchdog, an advice giver, and a hands on
tough organization. That is, it works to contain diseases like
the recent impox, polio and Marlburg virus rex. It also
categorizes the risk of the spread of diseases and that
helps it coordinate global efforts in combating these diseases. It
organizes programs, setting global standards and developing guidelines, so it
(02:14):
performs a lot of functions and rarely pulls together efforts
and funding for global health security.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
And when we zero in on Africa, then Janesh, how
does their work get a bit more targeted?
Speaker 4 (02:27):
So Africa has formed some of humanity's most devastating diseases
yellow fever, HIV, boler lesser among them, and yet the
continent has some of the lowest health spending and fust resources.
The WHOS focus its work on both strengthening health systems
to cope with climate related changes in the spread of
old diseases like malaria, and also prepare as best as
(02:48):
possible for emerging pathogens. With so many competing demands in Africa,
it's hard to single out a single focus, but certainly
some of the biggest disease killers in Africa since the
WHO was formed in nineteen four eight have been malaria, TB,
HIV and diarrhea illnesses such as cholera, So those are
big focus points even today.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
And we had you on a few months ago, Jenna,
speaking about m parks when you mentioned a few of
the other diseases that have sort of proliferated on the continent.
What is that risk here if funding is pulled from
the WHO, especially on the continent.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Well, other than the millions of Africans who will siffer
and die, which really can't be underestimated, there is a
risk of mutated variants that scientists then have to scramble
to understand, and in some cases these variants may not
respond to vaccines and other interventions, so that's a big risk,
and of course the very real risk of global spread.
(03:44):
Even in remote areas in the Congo, people do business
and then they return home to various parts of the
world and spread is real.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
So then it again, as we talk about quite a
bit with diseases, the diseases no no borders.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
So when you talk.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
About globally, this could if we do see the US
actually follow through on this plan to leave the WHO,
this could become a global issue.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Absolutely. The USE is the who's main source of funding,
so the impact will be huge. To put that into context,
if we look at the excitements in nineteen eighty when
smallpox was eradicated, it had taken immense coordinated efforts globally
and funding. So finally ridding the world of something like
HIV is also possible. But as Hiddeny Clark, who chased
(04:33):
the Lancet Advisory Board and Health and Climate Change set
in a panel in DeVos, it will take prioritization, political will,
hard cash, and of course dealing with equity issues. So
without that funding it doesn't work.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Stick with us, Jennis, when we come back, we're going
to talk about what the reaction has been since we
did hear this announcement from President Trump and who if
anyone could actually step in to fill the shortfall, we'll
be right back. Welcome back today on the podcast, we're
talking about President Trump's decision to withdraw the US from
the World Health Organization. JENSQ, our Healthcare and Consumer reporter
(05:11):
is still with us.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
So it's only been a few days, as.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
We were mentioning earlier in the podcast, but there has
been quite a bit of reaction to the news this week.
Have we heard from the WHO? What have some of
these organizations been saying.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
The WHO certainly did put out a statement and it
is a serious concern. We have also heard from governments
in Africas and Bobby's finance minister says he sees two
hundred million dollars of US funding at stick after the decision.
There will likely be small over implications for the US
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief known as PEPFAR and
(05:46):
this program, started twenty years ago by then President George W. Bush,
has arguably been one of the most impactful programs the
US has had and is relied upon in at least
seven countries. Probably aren't actually in Africa. These are serious concerns.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
And so then you're mentioning the funding earlier. The US,
from what we know, provides just over one billion dollars
in funding. Are there other countries that are just as
significant in terms of plugging the funding gap.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
As instan There aren't countries that come anywhere close to
that level of funding, but we have seen interest from
China in helping for the gap and other Asian and
Middle Eastern countries who will likely step up. It's worth
noting that this will also probably increase their influence on
global health, and that is something that I would imagine
many in DC are still weighing up and need to consider.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
What do you mean by that, Janis I mean the
influence of global health? What does that actually look like?
Speaker 4 (06:47):
So some funding goes to the WHO in a broad
context that helps paste off who work at the WHO, etc.
But some funding goes very specifically to certain programs, and
if you've got a country like China who are giving
that funding, some of that funding could be directed to
specific programs and that obviously just changes the influence. Also
(07:11):
when we look at continent like Africa, when you've got
to step away from health for a minute. But when
you've got China building the roads that lead to the mines,
that infrastructure is crucial to many many countries, and China
then gets access to the raw materials. It can be
similar in health, when things are directed very specifically to
(07:33):
certain programs, it can change the influence.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
If we do see President Trump sticking with this promise,
would it have an effect on the other health agencies
on the continent, like the Africa CDC.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
It definitely would. The extent to which it affects them
would have to still be seen. I would imagine that
if President Trump is looking internally more and is less
generous with global issa choose, he will probably pull funding
for a variety of things, and the who could then
(08:06):
be just the start. As I mentioned pep FAR. I
mean that that is an incredibly important program throughout Africa,
and it is directly linked to the US and the
US president and so you know, if he came out
and pulled that, it would have big impacts on other
organizations like Africa CDC if they need to divert funding
(08:30):
from things they are already using, you know, using it
for because they need to plug other gaps. As we've
discussed there are so many competing needs in Africa and
so if anything, there needs to be more funding, not less.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
And is there any help for a U turn from Trump?
I know, we never really know what is coming next.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
What are your sources telling you?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Well, the speed that he came out with this decision
doesn't look particularly promising at the stage. But as you say,
never say never, especially with President Trump's So I would
like to think that ultimately the risks to global health
security surely have to be taken seriously, and those conversations
hopefully will happen.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
And finally, Janis, as we were mentioning, emparks was a
wide concern last year when we were talking about, you know.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Diseases in healthcare on the continent.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
What is the focus now for you, especially now that
we're talking about this news coming from the US potentially,
I mean, what's the focus of the healthcare industry?
Speaker 3 (09:29):
I guess here on the continent.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
So this year in Africa, certainly, IMPOS continues to be
a big issue. Rates of spread of that disease have
not really dropped, and getting vaccines into arms is still
a big issue, especially for children. There are obviously other
diseases across the continents that are concerning. We've recently seen
(09:52):
an outbreak of Marburg in Tanzania. This bleeding fever is
got a high fertility rate and can spread quite easily,
healthcare officials often being at the forefront of the risk
as they're trying to help people. There's also it's been
a long time coming, but climate change is a big
issue in Africa. Arguably, Africa's the hardest hits and the
(10:14):
least responsible for climate change and disease spread changes as
globe bombs up, so we see floods, we see drafts
in areas that previously didn't have these problems, and with
that comes the risk of the spread of cholera and
mosquito borne diseases like malaria and even dingy. These are
(10:36):
our real problems and if anything, they need increased funding.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Jennis, thanks as always for joining us and for your reporting,
and you can read all of our coverage across Bloomberg platforms.
Now here's some of the other stories we've been following
across the region this week. Africa's biggest crude producer, in Nigeria,
has emerged from a year's long output slamp due to
improved secure city creating a quandary for the government.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Stretched public finances badly.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Need the extra revenue that would come from higher oil exports,
but the country is also under pressure to adhere to
OPEC PLUS production limits that have helped keep global crude
prices above seventy dollars a barrel. Analysts predict further growth
in Nigeria's output this year and a possible showdown with
OPEC Plus over the country's.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Quota and Angola.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Plans to sell stakes in its biggest telecommunications company unitel
Essay and two lenders in the coming months to attract investors.
That's according to the Minister of State for Economic Coordination,
Jose de Lima Masano. Masano made the announcement during an
interview with Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum in Davos
late Tuesday. Africa's third largest oil producer, will also dispose
(11:52):
of steaks in Banco de Fomento, Angola, its second largest lender,
and Standard Bank Group's local unit, he told us. And
you can follow these stories across Bloomberg, including the Next
African Newsletter. We'll put a link to that in our
show notes. This program was produced by Adrian Bradley. Don't
(12:15):
forget to follow and review this show wherever you usually
get your podcasts. I'm Jennifer's Abasoga. Thanks as always for listening.
We'll see you next time.
Host
Jennifer Zabasajja
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