US Exit From WHO Unfortunate, Threat To Global Health – Shehu Sani

Former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani, has described the official withdrawal of the United States (US) from the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an “unfortunate” and destabilising move, warning that it posed serious risks to global health security and the world’s most vulnerable populations.

In a statement shared via his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, Sani underscored the critical role the UN health agency plays in maintaining global health standards and responding to crises across the world.

“The withdrawal of the US from the @WHO is unfortunate,” Sani wrote. “For decades, the WHO has been a global institution and instrument for tackling global health challenges in all corners of the globe and in the remotest communities. WHO is irreplaceable and indispensable.”

The US officially completed its withdrawal from the WHO on Thursday, January 22, 2026, ending a 78-year membership and its status as the organisation’s largest single financial contributor. The exit follows a year-long process initiated by the Trump administration.

The move leaves a massive funding gap in the WHO’s budget, estimated at several hundred million dollars annually, potentially threatening key health programs such as polio eradication, malaria control, and pandemic preparedness.

Sani urged other global powers to close the financial vacuum created by the US departure, calling on Europe, China, and wealthy Gulf nations to take up greater responsibility.

“I wish to call on Europe, China and rich Arab Gulf countries to fill up the financial gap left behind by the US exit,” he appealed, signalling what could become a shift in the balance of global health leadership.

The US government, represented by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, defended the decision, accusing the WHO of “mishandling” the COVID-19 pandemic and “failing to adopt meaningful reforms.”

Officials said Washington will now focus on bilateral health agreements and direct partnerships with non-governmental organisations, bypassing the UN system.

However, critics like Sani warned that such a fragmented approach could slow down international health responses and weaken support for vulnerable communities.