00:00The World Health Organization kicks off its annual World Health Assembly in Geneva on Monday,
00:06drawing hundreds of officials, donors and diplomats,
00:10but notably without its traditional top funder, the United States.
00:14This year's assembly focuses on strengthening global health efforts
00:17amid a major funding shortfall driven largely by U.S. cuts.
00:24WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Gheiriasis
00:28highlighted the agency's financial challenges,
00:31urging member states to support its extremely modest 2.1 billion U.S. dollars annual budget.
00:38The revised budget, 22% lower than initially planned,
00:42reflects reduced contributions from the U.S. and other Western nations,
00:46with only 60% of the two-year budget is funded, leaving a 1.7 billion U.S. dollars gap.
00:53While avoiding direct mention of the U.S.,
00:56Tedros has previously called Washington's decision to withdraw a mistake,
01:00urging it to reconsider.
01:02With the U.S. prepares to exit,
01:04China is set to become the biggest provider of state fees,
01:08one of WHO's mainstreams of funding alongside donations.
01:13China pledged an additional quota of $500 million U.S. dollars to WHO over the next five years,
01:19reaffirming Beijing's commitment to global health
01:22and voicing strong support for WHO's leadership role
01:25in coordinating international health efforts.
01:29Running through May 27th,
01:31the Assembly is WHO's top policy-setting forum,
01:34where members finalize key strategies and budget decisions.
01:38In a major development,
01:39member states have voted in favor of a global treaty
01:43to strengthen pandemic preparedness,
01:45marking a significant milestone in global health governance.
01:49pulse and
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