The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns about the negative impact of the US’s freeze on billions of dollars in overseas aid, particularly its effects on global health initiatives like HIV, polio, mpox, and bird flu. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO’s Director-General, highlighted that these vital programs have been disrupted as a result of the suspension of funding from the United States.
President Donald Trump’s administration has moved to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), claiming its spending practices are “totally unexplainable.” In response, Dr. Tedros urged the US government to reconsider the aid freeze and continue providing funding until alternative solutions can be found.
At a virtual press briefing in Geneva, Dr. Tedros explained that the freeze has halted essential HIV treatment, testing, and prevention services in 50 countries. He specifically pointed to the suspension of PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), which has caused widespread disruption in HIV-related healthcare services.
“Clinics are closing, and health workers have been placed on leave,” Dr. Tedros stated, noting that the situation has worsened despite temporary reprieves for some life-saving services.
The freeze has also raised alarms among global health experts, who warn that it could lead to a resurgence of diseases and delays in the development of vaccines and treatments. The cuts are particularly concerning in regions like sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, where US aid has long been a key source of funding for health and humanitarian programs.
In his defense, President Trump has criticized USAID, describing it as “incompetent and corrupt” and announcing significant cuts to the agency’s 10,000-person workforce, alongside the suspension of most of its aid programs. USAID typically spends around $40 billion annually, primarily on health initiatives in countries like Ukraine, sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Asia.
Additionally, Elon Musk, who is involved in efforts to downsize the federal government, has previously labeled USAID as a “criminal organisation,” though no clear evidence has been presented to back these claims.
Alongside the freeze on USAID, Trump’s administration has also taken steps to withdraw the US from the WHO, further straining international collaboration on global health challenges. Under President Biden, the US had been the largest contributor to the WHO, funding nearly a fifth of its annual budget.
Dr. Tedros emphasized that the reduction in US support is hindering international cooperation in addressing global health threats, including a recent decrease in the reporting of bird flu cases in humans by the US.
In response to the funding gap, the WHO has implemented emergency measures, similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic, to provide life-saving medications, such as antiretroviral drugs for people living with HIV. However, Meg Doherty, WHO’s director of global HIV, hepatitis, and STI programs, stated that these short-term measures are not a sustainable solution.
“We’ve been coordinating the sharing of vital supplies between countries, but a more long-term solution is urgently needed,” she said.
SOURCE: BBC
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