GENEVA - As the United States (US) is set to formally withdraw from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in January, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned Tuesday that the move will make both the country and the world "unsafe", Xinhua reported.
On his first day back in the White House on Jan 20, 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the country from the WHO.
The United Nations received the formal notice two days later.
Under the organisation's charter, the withdrawal takes effect one year after notice is given.
"It's not really the right decision," Tedros said, expressing his hope that the United States will reconsider its decision and rejoin the WHO.
He added that much of the work done by the WHO is beneficial to the United States, and "that's why I said the US cannot be safe without working with WHO."
The WHO chief also said that the organisation is gradually addressing its funding issues through budget adjustments and structural reforms. - BERNAMA