(WASHINGTON, D.C.) The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) finds it regrettable that the U.S. has formally exited the World Health Organization (WHO) and reiterates its strong recommendation to the Trump Administration to reconsider this decision.
Representing approximately 2,000 board-certified preventive medicine physicians, ACPM emphasizes the importance of collaboration and prevention at the local, state, federal and international levels. Constructive engagement, rather than disengagement and isolation, is what will best serve to protect and defend America. We live in a world filled with myriad diseases that respect no borders.
“As events in recent years have demonstrated, American health is inextricably linked to global health,” noted ACPM President Ryung Suh, MD, FACPM. “While opinions may differ as to how such an international public health entity should be operated or how its operations should be funded, the inherent value of having such a collaborative global network in place is undeniable. If the U.S. seeks change in the operations of the WHO, perhaps it would be more effective to initiate those changes from within the organization, rather than exit it altogether.”
As a founding member of the WHO in 1948, the United States has played a pivotal role in shaping and governing the WHO’s work, most notably with the eradication of smallpox. Collaboration with the WHO has been instrumental in addressing global health challenges and protecting the health of Americans for more than 75 years. Instead of leaving the WHO, ACPM recommends that America strengthen its position at the WHO in response to global health threats and deliver American exceptionalism along with public health leadership on the international stage.
Diseases, particularly epidemics and pandemics, pose a threat to all mankind. Their management and eradication rely on multinational efforts to prevent and reduce illness, injury and death from afflictions, including those that once plagued our nation like smallpox, polio and malaria. With evolving health hazards from known and unknown pathogens, ACPM believes a coordinated, proactive approach is essential in protecting national security and ensuring American prosperity.
ACPM is committed to supporting evidence-based, informed decision-making in the face of evolving public health threats. ACPM recommends remaining fully engaged with the WHO, as solidifying leadership within the global health community will help to deliver a healthier and more resilient America. ACPM stands ready to collaborate with like-minded partners across various sectors, to navigate the challenges posed by this recent decision and encourages the Trump Administration to reverse its decision and maintain this country’s membership, and indeed reassert its leadership, in the World Health Organization.
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For more information or to speak with an ACPM representative, please contact media@acpm.org
About ACPM:
The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) is a professional medical society representing approximately 2,000 physicians, dedicated to the practice of preventive medicine; improving the health and quality of life of individuals, families, communities, and populations through disease prevention and health promotion. For more information about ACPM, visit www.acpm.org.
