The World Health Organization plays a leading role in protecting and promoting the health of people around the world. It has been on the front lines of every global health crisis since 1948, including spearheading early action against HIV. The withdrawal of US support for the WHO will not only hinder the current global fight against COVID-19, but it also affects efforts to eliminate AIDS, TB, malaria, hepatitis, polio, measles and other preventable diseases. International collaboration is crucial to national and global health. The WHO addresses health problems that concern us all, including maternal health, preventable childhood diseases, antimicrobial resistance and other potentially devastating problems. The United States needs the unified efforts and collaboration of all countries to identify, treat and prevent diseases that impact the health of its citizens.

Founded in 1987, ANAC is the professional organization for nurses and other members of health care teams working in HIV and HIV-related prevention, care and treatment. Our membership is global and we have 38 local chapters throughout the United States. As nurses, we have witnessed the interconnectedness and vulnerability to infectious diseases across borders. The COVID-19 global pandemic is the most recent, but certainly not the last, serious threat that requires international collaboration and strong investments to successfully confront and stem these risks to all of us.

We therefore urge the administration to immediately reconsider and rescind this action.