Dr. Tedros of the WHO calls for resuming U.S. humanitarian funding as the freeze on USAID has severely impacted healthcare initiatives in 50 countries, raising fears of disease spread and weakened global health responses.
USAID Funding Freeze Raises Alarm Over Global Health in 50 Countries
USAID Funding Freeze Raises Alarm Over Global Health in 50 Countries
The WHO warns that U.S. aid cuts are disrupting vital health services, including HIV treatment, in numerous nations.
Fifty countries are facing significant disruptions in healthcare services due to a freeze on funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), according to World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The funding, which amounts to tens of billions of dollars, supports crucial programs that combat diseases like HIV, polio, mpox, and bird flu.
U.S. funding has been suspended as part of President Donald Trump’s broader initiative to reform USAID, which he has criticized as "totally unexplainable." At a recent virtual press briefing in Geneva, Dr. Tedros stated, "There are actions that the US government is taking... which we're concerned are having a serious impact on global health." The suspension of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has particularly hindered HIV treatment and prevention services in several regions.
Health experts warn that the ongoing freeze may exacerbate existing health crises, resulting in a surge of diseases and stalling vital vaccine development. Dr. Tedros detailed how health facilities are closing down, with workers being furloughed in the wake of funding cuts, thus impacting patient care. He urged the Trump administration to find alternative solutions that could restore funding to essential health services.
The Biden administration had previously positioned the U.S. as the foremost funder of the WHO, contributing nearly 20% to its budget in 2023. However, the current administration’s stance appears to contradict this support, complicating international cooperation on pressing health challenges, including the reporting of avian influenza cases.
In response to the crisis, the WHO is implementing emergency measures that parallel those established during the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate the effects of the U.S. aid freeze. For instance, efforts are being coordinated among nations to ensure the sharing of necessary medications, specifically anti-retroviral treatments for HIV patients, though WHO officials acknowledge that these are only temporary fixes.
Meg Doherty, director of global HIV and STI programs at the WHO, emphasized the need for a more sustainable solution, stating, "We have been seeking support from country to country for sharing, but this is a short-term approach." The future of global health initiatives remains precarious as discussions around USAID's funding continue to unfold.
