Staff Reporter

A severe funding crisis is threatening global health services, with the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners facing devastating cutbacks following the United States’ announced withdrawal from the WHO in early 2025.

This exit strips away nearly 20% of the organization’s critical funding, collapsing life-saving health systems around the world, the WHO Foundation warns.

The financial shock, which follows a broader trend of aid cuts, has already led to the suspension or near-suspension of services at over 2,600 health facilities across 12 crisis-affected countries.

Furthermore, people in at least 70 nations are now missing out on essential medical treatment, according to the WHO Foundation.

The withdrawal and subsequent loss of funds compound an already fragile global health situation, with immediate, life-threatening repercussions.

The funding shortfall is delaying urgent responses to global outbreaks of cholera, polio, and Ebola.

In the U.S., a measles outbreak has already surged, recording 378 cases across 17 states and the first related death in a decade.

Life-saving HIV and TB treatments are facing an imminent end for vulnerable populations, putting years of global progress at risk.

Vaccination programs are losing momentum, placing an estimated 67 million children at risk. Women and children in crisis zones are expected to suffer the greatest impact as maternal health services become scarce.

In response to the unprecedented financial gap, the WHO Foundation, the official charitable arm of the WHO, has intensified its public donation campaign.

The Foundation is soliciting urgent funds to directly support WHO’s emergency and life-saving programs, including immediate health relief for Gaza, support for Maternal Health, and emergency responses to the Afghanistan Earthquake and outbreaks like Measles and Rubella.