The recent choice by the Trump administration to cut foreign aid and close down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) might lead to serious health crises worldwide. According to USAID’s own estimates, here are some alarming predictions:
- Up to 18 million more cases of malaria each year, potentially causing 166,000 additional deaths.
- About 200,000 children could face paralysis from polio annually, with hundreds of millions more at risk of infection.
- One million children might not receive treatment for severe acute malnutrition each year, which can be deadly.
- There could be over 28,000 new cases of diseases like Ebola and Marburg every year.
These troubling forecasts were shared in memos by Nicholas Enrich, an acting assistant administrator at USAID, which were obtained by The New York Times. Shortly after these memos were released, Enrich was placed on administrative leave.
In one memo, Enrich pointed to leadership issues at USAID, the Department of State, and the Department of Global Engagement (D.O.G.E.) for creating obstacles that hindered aid program implementation. He highlighted how these leaders blocked payment systems and shifted guidelines on what projects were considered lifesaving.
Another memo revealed a drastic drop in USAID’s global health workforce from 783 employees down to fewer than 70 in a very short period.
In an interview, Enrich explained his decision to release the memos came after receiving notice of his leave. He wanted to clarify the situation and showcase the impacts of reducing staff and halting crucial aid. He emphasized that they never had a real chance to deliver important humanitarian assistance due to these ongoing challenges.
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