Experts Sound Alarm Over U.S. Aid Freeze and Global Health Threats

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Global health experts are expressing alarm over the United States government's recent freeze on overseas aid, particularly affecting the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Trump administration's decision halts nearly all aid programs for 90 days while a review takes place. Critics, including Dr. Tom Wingfield from the UK's Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, warn that this action could lead to increased transmission of diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV due to disrupted treatment and prevention services.

Frontline AIDS, a UK and South Africa-based organization, reports that over 20 of its partners are facing significant impacts from the funding freeze, leading to staff layoffs and suspension of critical services. Experts emphasize that disruptions in healthcare could cause a resurgence of preventable diseases. Furthermore, Prof. Rosa Freedman from the University of Reading notes that USAID provides up to 40% of global development aid, making the potential long-term effects of the freeze particularly concerning.

The ongoing aid suspension threatens the progress made in tackling health crises worldwide, raising fears of exacerbated global health challenges.

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