An initiative between governments and global health organisations has formed to address disruptions to malaria and HIV programmes caused by reduced U.S. foreign aid.
This united front aims to pool resources, facilitate the sharing of vital medical supplies, and ensure the continuation of essential health services worldwide.
The impetus for this collaboration stems from the Trump administration’s decision earlier this week to slash over 80% of USAID funding, a move projected to have far-reaching consequences for global health initiatives. While some programmes have been salvaged or partially reinstated, the overall financial climate remains precarious, casting a shadow of uncertainty over future endeavours.
According to Reuters, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced these changes on March 10, following a review by the Department of Government Efficiency.
The immediate freeze on all foreign aid has already impacted health services worldwide, including major United Nations (UN) programmes like UNAIDS.
Michael Adekunle Charles, head of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, articulated the core strategy of this international effort.
“We are trying to say to countries: ‘Ok, you have more commodities, your neighbouring country does not have them, could you potentially give them some until we figure out a way of going ahead?’” Charles stated.
Mirroring the collaborative spirit displayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is actively coordinating with various nations to address impending shortfalls in HIV testing and treatment.
This involves the strategic distribution of resources to prevent critical shortages and maintain continuity of care. The WHO, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Bank (WB) launched a multi-country project to strengthen collaborative surveillance and diagnostic readiness for pandemic preparedness and response.
In Africa, the reactions to the withdrawal of aid have varied, with some nations expressing alarm and others resignation. “The U.S. government is not ultimately responsible for the health and security of the Nigerian people. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with us,” said Nigeria’s health minister, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate.
In Kenya alone, more than 35,000 health workers supporting HIV and TB programmes funded by USAID lost their jobs, leaving millions of patients stranded. In Cameroon, where 14,000 people die each year from malaria, the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), which enabled testing and treatment in villages, has come to a grinding halt. If a child has a fever in a village in the regions covered by PMI/USAID in Cameroon right now, a community health worker will be unable to test or treat the child.
To mitigate the impact of funding cuts, experts like Joy Phumaphi, executive secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, advocate for prioritising essential, life-saving interventions. “We must all work together to fill the immediate gaps while planning for longer-term financing solutions,” Phumaphi said.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund), which invests US$5 billion a year to defeat the three diseases, understands the cost of inaction and continues to be one of Africa’s biggest partners in the fight against infectious diseases.