On June 1, 2020, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) issued a statement attributed to AAFP President Gary LeRoy, MD, of Dayton, OH, urging continued participation in the World Health Organization. The statement reads as follows:
“In the face of a global, viral pandemic that has infected millions and resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of people, the world must come together to fight COVID-19. Withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO) in the face of a pandemic is irresponsible and will create a tremendous setback in efforts to eradicate this virus. The WHO also plays a critical role in addressing many areas of health and well-being including social determinants of health, noncommunicable disease prevention, communicable disease elimination, and mental health promotion. The AAFP urges the Administration to continue participation so that the important work of the WHO, especially near-term COVID-19 treatment and vaccine research, can continue.”