Introduction
On January 22, 2026, the United States officially withdrew from the World Health Organization or WHO, an intergovernmental organization that coordinates global responses to pandemics and works to improve public health around the world. WHO membership provides access to data, collaborative health programs, and mechanisms to respond to health emergencies. Withdrawing from the WHO means the organization loses access to funding, data, and important research and expertise. The United States also loses access to data, research, and global collaboration.
A4SC Resources
The below resources include relevant videos and lesson plans from our content library that will help contextualize this current event within broader, more enduring, concepts.
World Health Organization: Who is the WHO? – To understand the significance of this move by the US government, it is important to understand what the WHO is and its role on the global stage.
Pandemics: One Little Germ Can Change the World – A pandemic is a global, large-scale outbreak of a particular disease. The WHO empowers national governments with the information, resources, tools, and manpower necessary to invest in preventative healthcare infrastructure. Once governments are alerted to the emergence of a new disease, they can mobilize their resources and draw upon federal action plans and programs.
Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being – Only half the world’s population has access to essential health services, and many who have access struggle to afford it. To address these disparities and improve global health, the United Nations has set forth SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all.
Discussion Questions
- How can knowing about international standards and organizations help you engage more meaningfully with your own local and national government?
- What are some factors that might make some people more vulnerable to pandemics than others? If you were in charge of a government during a pandemic, what would your priorities be to protect those vulnerable people, and the nation as a whole?
- What is one action you can take to promote the goal of health for everyone at all ages?
Activity
Engage students in a mock debate where they pose as presidential candidates debating the pros and cons of rejoining the WHO. Students should consider and discuss ways that they WHO may impact their local communities. How do global health concerns trickly down to affect us on a day-to-day basis? Ex: COVID-19 shutdown
Additional Resources
- World Health Organization
- “Roles and Responsibilities in Preparedness and Response. ” Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response: A WHO Guidance Document., U.S. National Library of Medicine www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK143067.
- Chotiner, Isaac, et al. “How Governments Respond to Pandemics Like the Coronavirus.” The New Yorker, www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/how-governments-respond-to-pandemics-like-the-coronavirus.
- KFF. 2019. The U.S. Government and the World Health Organization. https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/fact-sheet/the-u-s-government-and-the-world-health-organization/
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