By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Argentina said Wednesday it will quit the World Health Organization, following in the footsteps of Donald Trump’s United States and citing similar complaints over the UN body’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Railing against the economic fallout of Covid-19 lockdowns, President Javier Milei lamented “one of the most bizarre crimes against humanity” as he explained the reasons for the move.

Argentina’s self-declared “anarcho-capitalist” leader said the WHO had been “the executing arm of what was the greatest experiment in social control in history

The South American country announced its withdrawal from the UN health agency two weeks after Trump, an ideological ally and hero of Milei, signaled Washington’s planned exit.

Milei’s decision was based on “deep differences regarding health management especially during the pandemic,” spokesman Manuel Adorni told reporters earlier, adding Argentina would not “allow an international body to interfere in our sovereignty.”

Argentina had been hard hit by the pandemic, with about 130,000 deaths, and Milei’s predecessor Alberto
Fernandez imposed a five-month lockdown in 2020 widely perceived as crippling for a struggling economy.

Adorni insisted withdrawing from the WHO gave Argentina “greater flexibility to implement policies adapted to the context” locally, while ensuring “greater availability of resources.”

The WHO did not immediately comment on Argentina’s departure.

WHO data shows Argentina contributed about $8.75 million in membership fees to the organization across 2022 and 2023 — 0.11 percent of the total budget.
It was slated to contribute $8.25 million for 2024-2025.

The vast majority of the UN agency’s budget comes from voluntary contributions, however, and Argentina has made none in recent years.

Adorni said Argentina “does not receive funding from the WHO, so this measure does not represent a loss of funds for the country.”

He also accused the body of “a lack of independence.”

‘Endless quarantines’ –
Last year, Argentina refused to join a new pandemic protocol drawn up by the WHO and gave notice of its intention to withdraw from the agency altogether.

International relations expert Federico Merke, of the University of San Andres in Buenos Aires, said the move would leave Argentina isolated when it comes to information-sharing and cooperation in the case of a new pandemic or other health threat.

Milei is an avowed fan of Trump, who signed an order within hours of his January 20 inauguration for the United States to withdraw from the WHO, which he has also criticized for its pandemic handling.

Washington was the biggest contributor to the Geneva-based organization, which Trump claimed had “ripped us off,” and the US withdrawal leaves global health initiatives short of funding.

Since taking office in December 2023, Milei has gutted public spending, having vowed to maintain a zero budget deficit after years of overspending.

His austerity measures are estimated to have tipped millions more people into poverty, but the country last year recorded its first budget surplus since 2010 while inflation fell by nearly half.

Milei was the first foreign leader to visit Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Florida estate after the Republican’s November US election victory.

His decision also casts new doubt on Argentina’s future adherence to the 2015 Paris climate change agreement, under which countries committed to limiting greenhouse gas emissions to keep global average temperature rise below a critical threshold.

Withdrawing the United States from the Paris pact was another of Trump’s first moves after taking office.

Milei’s Argentina, pushing for a free trade deal with the United States, has previously said it was “reevaluating” its strategy “on all climate change-related issues.”

A witch doctor from Abia State has been arrested in Enugu-Agidi, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State for unlawfully setting up a shrine and practicing without authorization.

Authorities have reiterated their stance—only indigenous native doctors from Anambra are permitted to operate within the state. Any non-indigene found violating this directive will face immediate arrest and prosecution.

This crackdown is part of efforts to regulate traditional practices and ensure compliance with local laws.

The Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations has expressed concern over the growing trend of Nigerians migrating abroad in search of better opportunities, commonly referred to as the “Japa” syndrome.

The committee, chaired by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi), has vowed to address this issue as part of its strategy to strengthen the nation’s economy and reduce mass emigration.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, emphasised the importance of reversing the trend for the benefit of the country.

“This committee will do this by collaborating with relevant stakeholders in the area of making Nigerians particularly the youth, believe more in their country and not the mindset of wanting to rush out of the country.

“Patriotism is earned and not forced. We need to identify a few steps that we can use in building our economy here using our diaspora energy.

“We’re going to look into countries like India, Pakistan, even Egypt, in Africa here on how they have grown their capacities and making their countries attractive for a larger percentage of citizenry to stay.

“The committee will start this process by getting the database of Nigerians in Diaspora, country by country and also collaborate with various international organisations on areas of focus that can attract many of them back home.

“India is a very good example of reversing the japa syndrome by being the Information and Communication Technology capacity hub of the world with attendant jobs for its citizens,” Akpoti-Uduaghan added.

In his remarks, the former chairman of the committee, Senator Victor Umeh (APGA, Anambra), expressed confidence in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s leadership.

He praised her for possessing the necessary skills to lead the committee effectively and galvanize efforts to tap into the potential of Nigeria’s diaspora communities. “With Senator Natasha as Chairman, I am confident that the committee will make significant strides in reversing the ‘Japa’ syndrome,” Umeh said.