This follows the announcement by the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, to place on hold funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) with immediate effect. The department spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, says this decision will have a severe impact on the World Health Organisation's programmes as well as the ability to fight and eliminate the pandemic. He says that this is the time the international community should stand together and offer the WHO increased support to suppress the virus transmissions and stop the pandemic. Monyela says the coronavirus cases are escalating at a rapid pace by the day and striking Africa and other most vulnerable states. 

Trump is accusing the WHO as being too focused on China and offering bad advice. Trump said in a Twitter post. "For some reason, funded largely by the United States, yet very China-centric. We will be giving that a good look. Fortunately, I rejected their advice on keeping our borders open to China early on. Why did they give us such a faulty recommendation?"

Monyane highlighted that the WHO, as the lead UN Agency, is mandated to promote health and to ensure universal health coverage globally, is tasked to lead global efforts to suppress the transmission and stop the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the sole global health agency, with the core focus on universal healthcare. As such, its efforts to coordinate a genuinely global response against this scourge should be recognised and supported.

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