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trump The Administration has signed dozens of “America First” global health funding agreements that will prioritize combating infectious diseases in countries consistent with the President’s broader foreign policy goals and positions.
$2.5 billion agreement for five years kenya Signed by Kenya’s President William Ruto and the Secretary of State on Thursday marco rubio To replace a patchwork of previous health agreements that were traditionally run by the US Agency for International Development for decades until the Trump administration ended it earlier this year.
The elimination of USAID as a separate agency generated widespread criticism and concern in the global health community as its immediate impact resulted in the elimination of funding for many hundreds of programs focused on the developing world, including cuts to maternal and child care, nutrition, and anti-HIV/AIDS programs.
Rubio said the agreement with Kenya aims to “strengthen American leadership and excellence in global health while eliminating dependency, ideology, inefficiency, and waste from our foreign aid framework.” He also praised Kenya’s role in leading and contributing to the international stabilization force working to tackle powerful gangs in Haiti.
Ruto praised the agreement and said Kenya would continue to play a role in Haiti as the gang suppression force transforms into a broader operation.
Under the health agreement with Kenya, the US will contribute $1.7 billion of the total amount, while the Kenyan government will pay the remaining $850 million. The agreement focuses on preventing and treating diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, with an emphasis on faith-based medical providers, although according to US officials, all clinics and hospitals enrolled in Kenya’s health insurance system will be eligible to receive the money.
“This support framework is a far cry from the past and will have a lasting impact on the health of all,” said Ouma Oluga, Kenya’s principal secretary of medical services.
According to Jeremy Levin, family planning programs that comply with US restrictions on the provision of abortion services will also be eligible brad smithTwo State Department officials were involved in the talks. He said the agreement would not discriminate against gay and transgender people or sex workers.
According to officials, several other African countries are expected to sign similar agreements with the US by the end of the year, although the continent’s two most populous countries – Nigeria and South Africa – are not expected to join that group due to political differences with Trump, according to Levin and Smith.
The dismantling of USAID had ripple effects across Africa, shutting down programs that fought disease and hunger and supported maternal health, and even some programs that tackled extremism and promoted democracy. It also put thousands of health workers out of jobs because their salaries were funded by US aid.
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Imre reported from Cape Town, South Africa.