Lifesaving health programs across the globe are experiencing critical shutdowns following a 90-day suspension of U.S. foreign aid initiated by the Trump administration. The halt affects numerous essential health initiatives, including treatment and prevention measures for diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and H.I.V.
For instance, in Uganda, the National Malaria Control Program has been forced to suspend its insecticide spraying operations and the distribution of bed nets aimed at protecting pregnant women and young children, as stated by Dr. Jimmy Opigo, the program's director. Similarly, in Zambia, the delivery of vital medical supplies—such as drugs for hemorrhaging in pregnant women—has been halted because trucking companies were dependent on funding that is no longer available due to the aid suspension.
Additionally, many clinical trials across South Asia, Africa, and Latin America have ground to a halt. Thousands of individuals enrolled in these studies, who were receiving drugs, vaccines, and medical devices under close supervision, find themselves cut off from necessary follow-up treatments and care.
In conversations with over 20 health professionals and program managers, it became evident that the repercussions of the funding pause are devastating. Many chose anonymity out of fear that their candid comments could further endanger the reinstatement of their vital work. Testimonies often included emotional accounts detailing the dismantling of years—if not decades—of dedicated efforts in public health.
