A new study warns that cutting US foreign aid funding could result in tens of millions of deaths, particularly in children, due to lack of access to life-saving disease treatments and prevention programs.
The Trump administration’s reduction of funding for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has led to a collapse of nearly $13 billion in global health programs. This includes HIV and tuberculosis treatment, family planning, maternal and child health programs, among others.
If this funding is not restored, the study predicts a significant increase in global deaths through 2040. Specifically, it estimates that:
– Over 15 million additional deaths from HIV/AIDS
– Over 2 million additional casualties from tuberculosis
– Nearly 8 million additional children dead of other maladies
The collapse of US aid to developing countries will also lead to tens of millions of unplanned pregnancies and up to 16 million “unsafe abortions”. The study’s authors warn that this mass suffering could be avoided by maintaining current funding levels.
The program PEPFAR, which was established under the George W. Bush presidency, is particularly vulnerable due to a lack of funding. Despite being credited with saving millions of lives, PEPFAR’s future remains uncertain due to congressional inaction and chaotic governance.
The study’s authors stress that continued cuts to global health programs would reverse decades of progress made in improving global health outcomes, leading to levels of deaths and disease not seen since the 1990s.
Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-rubio-musk-foreign-aid-millions-dead-1235321188