WASHINGTON – Following is a statement by American Psychological Association President Sandra L. Shullman, PhD, regarding President Trump’s assertion that the United States will pull out of the World Health Organization:
“The American Psychological Association urges the administration to reconsider plans to withdraw from the World Health Organization, particularly during the global pandemic. WHO is a critical organization whose mission includes ensuring that billions of people from all countries have access to health care. APA is also concerned that WHO be able to continue its mental health work, focused on ending stigma and discrimination and expanding services to populations with virtually no resources.
“It is in the best interest of America, as well as the health and welfare of all Americans, for us to be active participants in the global community by supporting WHO.
“Now is not the time to pull funding from this agency but rather to shore up our support and allow WHO to continue working toward accelerating effective mitigations approaches, treatment and ultimately a global COVID-19 vaccine for all peoples. If the United States is serious about defeating the COVID-19 pandemic, we must continue to support the vital work of this agency.”