Addis Ababa: The African Union on Wednesday called on US President Donald Trump to reconsider his decision to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to Anadolu Agency, African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat emphasized the critical role the US has played as a member of the WHO in shaping global health policies and norms for over seventy years. Trump's recent executive order, signed upon his inauguration, formalizes the US exit from the international health body.

The executive order outlines several reasons for the withdrawal, citing the WHO's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as mismanaged, its failure to implement necessary reforms, and its lack of independence from political pressures exerted by member states.

Mahamat highlighted the US's historical support for the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an agency under the African Union that collaborates with the WHO to tackle public health emergencies. He expressed hope that the US will reconsider its decision, stressing the importance of the WHO in maintaining global public health as a shared responsibility.

The WHO, which was established on April 7, 1948, currently includes 194 member states. It operates in over 150 locations worldwide and plays a vital role in addressing global public health issues.