American voters say U.S. support for WHO important, poll shows

"Nine in 10 U.S. voters say it's important for the United States to support the global health efforts of the U.N.'s World Health Organization, according to a United Nations Foundation/Better World Campaign poll [.pdf] released Thursday," The Hill's "Global Affairs" blog reports. "The poll comes as lawmakers debate significant cuts to federal spending, including cuts to global health funding and foreign aid," the blog notes (Pecquet, 5/3).

According to a U.N. Foundation/Better World Campaign press release, "The nationwide polling of American voters, conducted by noted bipartisan firms Public Opinion Strategies and Hart Research Associates, also reveals that: 89 percent believe the U.S. should be supportive of U.N. programs that improve access to vaccines and maternal health care; [and] 79 percent believe the U.S. should be supportive of U.N. programs that provide voluntary family planning services, such as information about access to contraception." U.N. Foundation President Timothy Wirth said, "Continued U.S. engagement in the WHO's efforts to curb disease and ensure girls' and women's access to adequate health care will ensure we lead efforts to build a safer, healthier future for our children," the press release states (5/3).