This week has marked what could be the last death of death for Usaid And for a large part of the US government’s investment in global health and development, an unrivaled effort that has helped save millions of lives around the world. In a back and forth before the federal courtyard Between a coalition of American organizations and the government on the Trump administration freezeAnd after the judge has repeatedly ordered the government to thaw the frost and pay for his bills, he was revealed in Documents And information that the administration has canceled almost all of the USAID and the State Department of the USAID. The cancellation includes many vital projects, even those who had received derogations of the Secretary of State Rubio to allow them to continue (although most were unable to do so due to the inability to be paid and an already exhausted federal workforce). These cancellations include The main contract that has provided rescue products to low -income countries, such as bed nets to help prevent and drugs to treat malaria; Oral rehydration rehydration salt and zinc copacs to fight severe diarrhea in children; All TB projects and many HIV projects; and efforts to treat maternal health. In addition, the administration had already declared that certain global health areas were not eligible for derogations, in particular HIV prevention (apart from pregnant and breastfeeding women) and family planningThis means that these services ended last month.
This result is the result of several things that have collided at the same time: a combination of bad and disinformation UsaidForeign help, and federal workers; The Trump administration campaign to obtain rid of workers and federal agenciesWith USAID and foreign help, one of its first victims; A growing supporter even in fields that had already experienced a large and bipartite consensus (like Pepfar)); a lack of conscience of the American public on what foreign aid is (and a propensity to think that it represents much more the federal budget than its 1%)); And authentic, more measured Conversations on foreign aid reformAlthough these have been replaced by these events for the moment.
In the end, a large part of what is happening will be decided by the courts and the administration’s response to court decisions, as well as by Congress which, so far, have not intervened to combat the cancellation of the financing administration which he has appropriated and the dismantling of a large agency he created. There will be an opportunity to discuss real reforms for global health and development. And it will take time to see how the others, and probably much smaller, global health and greater aid infrastructure can better continue to make a difference, as well as if other countries, including those of those of AfricaCan fill part of the gap for the most urgent needs. However, it is unlikely that the complete extent of damage already caused to vulnerable people around the world is easily repairable.