Governments and global health organizations are urgently stepping in to address critical gaps in the fight against diseases like malaria and HIV, as funding cuts from the U.S. government jeopardize ongoing efforts. The Trump administration recently announced the freezing of foreign aid, slashing more than 80% of related programs—threatening global health initiatives.
While some programs have been preserved or reinstated, financial resources remain limited, and the future of these programs remains uncertain. As a result, health organizations are turning to international cooperation to share essential resources such as tests and treatments.
“We are urging countries to help each other—if one nation has sufficient medical supplies and a neighboring country does not, could they potentially share them until a more sustainable solution is found?” said Michael Adekunle Charles, head of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other global health bodies are also coordinating with governments to address deficiencies in HIV testing and treatment. Their approach mirrors the resource-sharing efforts seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, when nations worked together to prevent shortages of critical health supplies.
In some countries, such as Kenya and Malawi, government officials are redeploying staff and discussing emergency funding solutions. However, experts caution that resources remain scarce, and many staff members lack the necessary training for their new roles in disease control.
Florence Riako Anam, co-executive director of the Global Network of People Living with HIV, noted that many of the affected countries had already developed plans to take greater control over HIV-related initiatives. Still, these plans do little to address the immediate crisis.
“The challenge is that this issue affects neighboring countries as well, and the need for shared resources is critical,” said Nelson Otwoma, director of the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya.
Global leaders are calling for countries to prioritize life-saving interventions, such as providing HIV treatment and distributing bednets to prevent malaria. Joy Phumaphi, executive secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, emphasized the importance of collective action.
“We must unite to fill the immediate gaps while simultaneously planning for long-term financing solutions,” she said.
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