When the United States, the World Health Organization’s largest donor, announced its exit, one employee established an online fundraising to fill the void, and her efforts have already raised more than $100,000.
Tania Cernuschi, 46, told AFP she had the idea shortly after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring Washington’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization, one of his first actions since taking office on January 20.
The WHO’s budget shortfall is expected to rise further when Argentina said Wednesday that it would also leave the UN health body.
Cernuschi is aiming to raise $1 billion to make up for US contributions, which amounted to $1.3 billion — or 16 percent of the WHO’s budget — for the years 2022-2023.
“I was disturbed by the news,” said Cernuschi, an Italian development economist who has been at the WHO for 10 years.
“I woke up in the morning and thought of the campaign, and asked whether I could go ahead. And nobody stopped me.”
She launched her “One Dollar, One World” fundraising page on the website of the WHO Foundation — the arm of the UN agency that matches private finance with high-impact health projects.
“I’m asking for one dollar from a billion people, for $1 billion in total. But people can give more,” she said, adding that all funds go directly to the foundation.
More than 3,000 donors from countries across the world have chipped in, she said, raising some $104,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.
We have about 20 who have given more than $500 and we’re expecting a big donation in the coming days of $20,000 which would be great,” she said
