US aid cuts are hurting Africa's ability to respond to disease outbreaks, health chief says

March 13, 2025 3:34 PM GMT+0 |
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Africa Received Billions in U.S. Aid. Here’s What It Will Lose.
The United States spent decades responding to conflicts and disease in Africa. The continent is now expected to be the hardest hit by the Trump administration’s aid cuts.The New York Times - Mar. 9 -
No disease is deadlier in Africa than malaria. Trump's US aid cuts weaken the fight against it
Malaria season begins this month in a large part of AfricaABC News - Mar. 9 -
South Africa plans to spend more on health and defense after US cuts aid
Lawmakers in South Africa have laid out plans to shore up the budgets for health and defense but also put up value added tax by 0.5%, a move that will raise the cost of livingABC News - Mar. 12 -
How Foreign Aid Cuts Are Setting the Stage for Disease Outbreaks
Organizations funded by the United States helped keep dangerous pathogens in check around the world. Now many safeguards are gone, and Americans may pay the price.The New York Times - Mar. 9 -
US evangelical groups urge Trump to spare HIV/Aids program from aid cuts
Christian organizations helped create Pepfar, credited with preventing 25m early deaths, particularly in Africa. Christian evangelical organizations instrumental in creating the US program that has ...The Guardian - Mar. 17 -
A UN rights expert blasts the impact of US aid cuts on Myanmar
An independent human rights expert says Myanmar’s people are already feeling the “crushing impact” from the “sudden, chaotic withdrawal” of U.S. and other humanitarian aidABC News - Mar. 17 -
'We will just die in silence': US aid cuts hit Ethiopia's fragile Tigray region
Aid agencies distributing U.S. food aid in Ethiopia's war-affected Tigray region say they have had to stop feeding millions of people because of the Trump administration's restrictions on foreign aidABC News - Mar. 13 -
Trump Administration Abruptly Cuts Billions From State Health Services
States have been told that they can no longer use grants that were funding infectious disease management and addiction services.The New York Times - 6h -
EU’s foreign policy chief laments US funding cuts to Radio Free Europe
Kaja Kallas says the bloc cannot automatically fill the gap left by the US. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, expressed disappointment over US funding cuts to Radio Free Europe and said ...The Guardian - Mar. 17 -
Aid workers warn ‘people are dying and they’re going to continue dying’ as funding cuts hit
Moves by US, UK and other donors to cut aid mean ‘high malnutrition rates, starvation and death’, say experts. Cuts to food assistance by the US, Britain and others are already leading to more ...The Guardian - Mar. 14 -
UNAIDS chief: US funding cut could mean '10-fold increase' in deaths
The head of the United Nations program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) warned Monday there will be a "10-fold increase" in AIDS-related deaths due to the recent cuts in U.S. foreign funding. USAIDS Executive ...The Hill - 2d -
Almost 7 in 10 concerned about measles outbreak: Poll
More than two-thirds of respondents in a new poll say they are concerned about the measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico. In a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday, 69 percent of ...The Hill - Mar. 13 -
Johns Hopkins University says it is cutting more than 2,000 workers due to cut to federal aid
Johns Hopkins University said Thursday that it is cutting over 2,000 workers because of a federal funding cut. “The termination of more than $800 million in [U.S. Agency for International ...The Hill - Mar. 14 -
Experts give Kennedy low marks as measles outbreak tests him
A worsening measles outbreak in West Texas has spread to two other states, providing Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. his first real test of responding to a major ...The Hill - Mar. 13 -
Trump administration revokes state and local health funding
The Department of Health and Human Services is canceling tens of billions of dollars in federal grants that state and local health departments were using to track infectious diseases, health ...The Hill - 2h -
Marco Rubio says South Africa’s ambassador to US is ‘no longer welcome’
US secretary of state accuses Ebrahim Rasool of being a ‘race-baiting politician who hates America’ and Donald Trump. The United States is in effect expelling South Africa’s ambassador to ...The Guardian - Mar. 15 -
South Africa should not be 'bullied' by US in ambassador row, opposition says
The calls come after South Africa's ambassador in Washington was given 72 hours to leave the country.BBC News - Mar. 16 -
Labour councillor guilty of indecent exposure should quit, says health secretary
The health secretary calls for his former aide to resign after the aide admitted indecent exposure.BBC News - Mar. 12 -
Elon Musk's politics are hurting Tesla, 85% say in investor survey
More than eight out of every 10 respondents to a Morgan Stanley survey believe Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s controversial political activities are hurting his business.NBC News - Mar. 12 -
The ‘freedom’ railway: China’s plan to take on the US in Africa
Tazara project showcases Beijing’s leaner approach to overseas development just as western aid appears to retreatFinancial Times - Mar. 12 -
As Ebola Spreads in Uganda, Trump Aid Freeze Hinders Effort to Contain It, U.S. Officials Fear
Two more people are reported dead from the disease, and dozens are in isolation, as the outbreak grows.The New York Times - Mar. 7 -
Funding cuts threaten ‘success story’ of efforts to combat HIV/Aids
Steep reduction in aid spending by US and Europe could drive infections and deaths to early 2000s levels, research warnsFinancial Times - 4h -
The Republican Medicaid cuts will hurt everyone, not just those in need
I know from experience that cutting Medicaid won’t make health care more accessible, affordable or efficient for anyone — when one part of the system struggles or fails, the burden is shifted to ...The Hill - Mar. 16 -
How major cuts at Johns Hopkins could impact public health
Major health research institution Johns Hopkins University says it is eliminating more than 2,000 jobs after the Trump administration cut $800 million in funding from the United States Agency for ...CBS News - Mar. 17 -
Kennedy Links Measles Outbreak to Poor Diet and Health, Citing Fringe Theories
In a recent interview, the health secretary also suggested that the measles vaccine had harmed children in West Texas, center of an outbreak.The New York Times - Mar. 11 -
How oral health may be linked to heart and brain health
New research suggests a connection between oral bacteria and Alzheimer's disease, raising concerns for those with poor dental health. With nearly 700 species of bacteria in our mouths, experts say ...CBS News - Mar. 14 -
Disease-sniffing dogs and trainers part of DOGE cuts
The recent DOGE cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture include specialized K-9's who are trained to check food for any diseases. NBC News' Gadi Schwartz talks to co-founder of K9 ...NBC News - 5d -
Ukraine agrees to US-led ceasefire; Russia yet to weigh in
U.S. officials announced that Ukraine is ready to accept a 30-day ceasefire with Russia. In return, the United States agreed to resume sending military aid and intelligence to Ukraine. The Kremlin ...NBC News - Mar. 12 -
World Health Organization warns of possible tuberculosis surge because of USAID cuts
Health authorities say that the Trump administration’s gutting of USAID raises the risk of a global surge in tuberculosis cases and deaths.NBC News - Mar. 9 -
U.S. Foreign Aid Cuts Hit Sudanese Refugees Fleeing Violence and Famine in Darfur
Just weeks after the U.S. government suspended its work in massive foreign aid cuts announced in January, humanitarians say much of the damage to critical programs has already been done.The New York Times - Mar. 18 -
Drone attacks killing hundreds of civilians across Africa, says report
Calls grow to control military use of unmanned aerial vehicles which, despite claims of precise targeting, are claiming civilian lives. Almost 1,000 civilians have been killed and hundreds more ...The Guardian - Mar. 10 -
Trump Foreign Aid Cuts Threaten Refugees’ Survival: ‘People Will Die’
At the world’s largest refugee camp, for Rohingya people in Bangladesh, the food allowance per person is set to fall to just $6 per month, far below what aid officials say is required for survival.The New York Times - Mar. 17 -
Trump administration to cut vaccine aid to developing countries
Administration plans to end funding to Gavi, a global health organization that helps provide life-saving care for children. The Trump administration is planning to end funding for Gavi, a global ...The Guardian - 10h -
Consumers are cutting back on fancy snacks. Here’s how General Mills is responding.
The packaged-food giant’s CEO doesn’t think it needs to play into “a race to the bottom on pricing,” and should instead emphasize the flavor and health benefits of its snack lineup.MarketWatch - Mar. 19 -
Elon Musk-backed foreign aid group GiveDirectly is hit by Doge cuts
The nonprofit has received millions in donations from Tesla chief’s foundationFinancial Times - Mar. 19 -
Fed chief Jay Powell plays down growth worries after jobs report disappoints
Chair says US central bank in no ‘hurry’ to cut interest rates at end of turbulent week for Wall StreetFinancial Times - Mar. 7 -
Ivory Coast is losing US aid as al-Qaida and other extremist groups are approaching
The Trump administration's sweeping cuts in foreign aid have impacted programs in northern Ivory Coast to counter the spread of al-Qaida and the Islamic State groupABC News - Mar. 16 -
Israel to cut off electricity supply to Gaza, minister says
Eli Cohen's announcement on Sunday came one week after Israel cut off all aid supplies to the territory.BBC News - Mar. 9 -
12 dead, dozens hurt as bus overturns, passengers thrown on highway in South Africa
Emergency services say at least 12 people died and 45 were injured when a bus overturned on a highway in the South African city of JohannesburgABC News - Mar. 11
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UNAIDS director proposes that President Trump make an 'amazing deal' to end HIV
The head of the U.N. AIDS agency says the sudden loss of American money has been “devastating” for efforts to stop HIV and will cost many lives of the world’s most vulnerable peopleABC News - 2d -
5 high-level CDC officials are leaving in the latest turmoil for the public health agency
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Dr. Mehmet Oz heads to the Senate with pitch to oversee America's health insurance programs
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'We will just die in silence': US aid cuts hit Ethiopia's fragile Tigray region
Aid agencies distributing U.S. food aid in Ethiopia's war-affected Tigray region say they have had to stop feeding millions of people because of the Trump administration's restrictions on foreign aidABC News - Mar. 13 -
Experts say US weather forecasts will worsen as DOGE cuts balloon launches
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Federal officials cited the end of the Covid-19 pandemic in halting the research. But much of the work was focused on preventing outbreaks of other pathogens.The New York Times - 5h -
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