Statement from the Association of Schools of Public Health in Africa (ASPHA) regarding the United States’s Intent to withdraw from WHO
 

The Association of Schools of Public Health in Africa (ASPHA) aligns with the Global Network of Academic Public Health (GNAPH) in expressing deep concern over the United States’ intent to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO). As a network of 58 public health institutions across 21 African countries, ASPHA recognizes WHO as an indispensable partner in strengthening public health education, workforce development, and health systems resilience on the African continent.
WHO plays a crucial role in Africa by supporting public health training, setting competency standards, and facilitating the accreditation of programs that ensure a high-quality workforce. The potential weakening of WHO’s global support threatens not only ongoing initiatives but also the future preparedness of African nations in addressing emerging health threats. ASPHA remains committed to standardizing public health education, building research capacity, and developing a next-generation public health workforce that is well-equipped to tackle the continent’s most pressing health challenges. These efforts align with WHO’s mission to strengthen health systems, improve emergency response capacity, and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 on good health and well-being. Now more than ever, international cooperation and investment in public health education are essential to safeguarding global health security.