WHO Offers Voluntary Retirement Amid US Funding Cut

By Baba Dan’Iya

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced voluntary retirement options for its staff as part of cost-cutting measures, following the United States’ decision to withdraw from the organization, a development confirmed by an internal memo referenced in a Bloomberg News report on Friday.

According to the memo circulated among WHO employees, the US exit has created significant financial challenges, necessitating the implementation of cost-saving strategies.

The health agency is offering four months’ salary to staff members aged 55 or older by June, with those accepting the offer required to depart by July 15.

This move comes after former US President Donald Trump initiated a 12-month withdrawal process for the US from the WHO in January. The agency had previously implemented cost-saving measures, including reductions in travel expenses and a freeze on recruitment, following the US withdrawal announcement.

The United States, historically the WHO’s largest government donor, contributed approximately 18% of the organization’s total funding.

Trump, in his inaugural speech, cited the WHO’s alleged mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, China, as a primary reason for the US withdrawal. He also criticized the WHO’s failure to implement urgent reforms and its perceived lack of independence from political influence by member states.

The former US President further alleged that the WHO had not acted independently from “inappropriate political influence of WHO member states” and imposed “unfairly onerous payments” on the US, disproportionate to contributions from other major countries like China.

The voluntary retirement offer is seen as a direct response to the financial shortfall created by the US withdrawal, as the WHO seeks to maintain its operations and fulfill its global health mandate.

The WHO has not released an official statement to the press at the time of this report.