The Trump administration’s move to suspend US foreign aid has directly impacted the availability of HIV drugs in eight nations, threatening an impending health crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.
Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, and Ukraine may run out of life-saving HIV drugs soon, the WHO says. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the interruption would undo two decades of gains in the fight against the virus, with a possible 10 million more cases of HIV and three million deaths from HIV-related causes.
The foreign aid freeze by President Donald Trump soon after assuming office in January has also impacted the fight against polio, malaria, and tuberculosis. The WHO-coordinated Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network, functioning at 700 sites around the globe, is also facing potential closure—just as measles cases increase in the US.
“The United States has a role to play in making sure that if it withdraws direct funding, it does so with an orderly and humane manner, giving affected countries the chance to seek alternative financial backing,” Ghebreyesus said.
The HIV funding crisis is not isolated. In Afghanistan, 80% of the essential health care services supported by WHO are on the verge of closing because of lack of finances. Already, 167 facilities have closed down, and 220 more will likely close down by June unless drastic action is taken.
The Trump administration’s proposal to exit the WHO has also compelled the agency to start hiring freezes and budget reductions. The WHO disclosed that it would cut its funding target for emergency operations from $1.2 billion to $872 million in the 2026-2027 budget cycle.
As events unfold, experts in global health are cautioning of catastrophic ramifications if substitute funds are not available in the near future.
