Tanisha Upadhyay
Introduction
Recent decision by U.S government to stop funding under USAID United States Agency for International Development proved to be warning call for global health. Study by WHO on impact of funding cuts indicates immediate challenge in 50 plus countries for HIV Services, 27 countries will face harmful breakdown due to tuberculosis, Malaria that projected 15 million+ Case, 100 thousand+ deaths will worsen this year. As per WHO 700+ WHO labs for measles and Rubella Network are facing shutdown. This has created humanitarian crises almost 24 million living in crises without access to essential health Services. India’s first three clinics providing services to transgender Community aiding over 5,000 beneficiaries closed due to USAID cuts.
Shutting down of services is one immediate outcome but rises many question on ethical consideration behind USAID funding cuts. The irony is that experts can’t evaluate actual impact of retraction of aid because executive orders have also eliminated data collection System so experts are unable to accurately predict the coming Crises. In addition, food distribution halted because there is no staff to deliver food that is stuck in warehouses, this will further contribute to cycle of food born disease.
As most of under developed nations and developing nations including India lacks food storage capacity, hygiene and sanitation in warehouses. Harvard humanitarian initiative that works to create new knowledge and advance leadership in disasters and humanitarian crisis with funding cut stopped there Contracts and their ability to support the sector is threatened. The biggest effect of funding cut is that large portion of US aid goes to food aid particularly world food program supporting humanitarian lifeline for over 150 million people. This will escalate malnutrition rates lead to significantly higher mortality rates particularly across central and northern Africa. Data from Centre for global development indicates 26 highly exposed and highly fiscally constrained Countries.
Figure 1. 26 highly exposed and highly fiscally constrained countries that will be unable to fill the gap left by US aid
DRC = Democratic Republic of Congo; Lao PDR = Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Teal Grey = low-income country and in/at high risk of debt distress
Yellow = low-income country, not at high risk of debt distress
Teal = Lower-middle-income country in/at high risk of debt distress
Funding cuts not only impacts overall global health but also risks stability of the Country as it reduced Conflict and migration. This is a fact that deadly diseases spread easily so if in present scenario AIDs burn in less developed world it is not good for America because global epidemic will be untamable.
Present US is watching active evolvement of private players in government. Complete Scenario of aid cut moves globe towards private dominate health sector with commercial ideology rather than Socialistic approach. When citizens of under developed nations will not get medicine, health service, vaccines at low cost.
There government’s will be forced to buy generic drugs from private players, Data shows 2,443 generic drugs art are made in U.S includes companies like Teva Pharmaceuticals,Medytor, Hospira, Actavis, Lubic pharmaceuticals that are key U-S private players in global market.
Professor Nitibeko Ntusis provides a thought provoking perspective to USAID funding cut. UNAID funding rut is a critical movement in global health history presenting not just a challenge but a profound opportunity. Professor Nitibeko Ntusis Kumar Brody points out that reliance of global south on foreign and particularly from Global North has created a scenario where health policies, funding and research agendas are oflen dictated by external interests rather than by needs and aspirations of the Countries. Covid 19 outbreak and Ukraine military aid pause is a alarm for global south to reduce dependence on global north and move towards self reliance.
Prof Ntusi says this Colonial legacy in which global south has been positioned as a recipient rather than a leader in health science and innovation must be challenged. Crises due to funding cut can be severe but can be a critical junction to bring balance In global development. Prof Ntusi suggests governments from global South to invest in their own healthcare System. Countries can lay ground for home grown innovation that is better align with local context and periorities.According to prof Nturi this paradigm shift must not only address economic dimension but abo engage with epistemic and power imbalance that continues to define the field of global health.
Solution
In long term to dismantle power concentration in Global north, it require concerted effort from government, civil society, academic institutions and private Sector to create self sufficient health sector one which is more inclusive, diverse, equitable. In the words of prof Ntusi a creation of health sector when voice, South from global are not just heard but empowered. But to avoid the immediate crises it required collective efforts from governments of global South, United nations and most critical of WHO.
United nations can start funding cut after 6 months from now to prepare Global South for avoiding crises and emerge new area of fundings. United nation can divide activities under USAID in two categories essential services and extra essential services. USAID should fund only extra essential services that includes vaccine, maternity service and disaster services. Food distribution Services that are most disturbed due to funding should be manage with coordination of national government and WHO. WHO is connected to numerous non-government organization can create a non profit service team to harness workforce.
References
About the contributor: Tanisha Upadhyay is a fellow at DFPGYF Diplomacy, Foreign Policy & Geopolitics Youth Fellow at IMPRI. Her contributions focused on providing in-depth research, data analysis, and policy recommendations aimed at addressing the intersection of Geopolitics issues. Her work in this cohort has provided critical insights that contribute to the ongoing discourse on Foreign Policy.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
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Acknowledgment: This article was posted by Bhaktiba Jadeja, visiting researcher and assistant editor at IMPRI.
