“As a country in a region that continues to rely on the assistance of the WHO, to supplement national efforts, we are deeply concerned about the current politicisation of the work of the World Health Organisation. We are particularly disconcerted about the withholding of funding at this critical time,” Pandor addressed her fellow BRICS foreign ministers in a virtual meeting on Tuesday. 

The meeting of the multilateral forum, incorporating Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, was convened to discuss the Covid-19 crisis and its impact. Russia, in its capacity as the current BRICS chair, convened the meeting. 

In her address to the meeting, Pandor thanked the nations that have increased support to the WHO. She said the withholding of financial support for the WHO will harm Africa. 

“We thank and congratulate all countries that have come forward and increased their support to the WHO in this difficult time. We believe the withholding of funds will impair the ability of the WHO to provide the much-needed help in developing countries and in particular in Africa,” said Pandor. 

She said the coronavirus is threatening global devastation, and nations across the world should come together and fight the pandemic. 

“We have to join efforts to find a vaccine and a cure for Covid-19. It is for this reason that South Africa has joined the international call for support and strengthening of the mandate of the World Health Organisation as it continues to co-ordinate and guide global efforts to combat the pandemic,” said Pandor. 

US President Donald Trump this month halted funding to the WHO, saying it had "failed in its basic duty" in allowing the pandemic to take hold.

Subsequently, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced an additional $150 million (around R2.8 billion) towards the WHO, describing the move to pull funds from the organisation “a dangerous and nonsensical move”.

China also announced an additional $30m to the WHO in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19.

African News Agency