Billions of dollars, decades of progress spent eliminating devastating diseases may be lost with undoing of USAID
The Bottom Line
Cutting USAID funding could reverse decades of progress against devastating tropical diseases, allowing them to spread again.
The Trump administration's proposed defunding of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2025 could impact efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases, according to researchers. This action could affect progress and funding previously allocated to diseases such as river blindness and elephantiasis. Researchers state that discontinuing USAID support would cease disease elimination efforts, potentially allowing parasites to spread and reversing public health achievements. These diseases, which cause suffering and disability in low-income countries, have experienced reductions attributed to global campaigns distributing antiparasitic medications. Without continued funding for medication delivery and program support, millions of individuals could be re-exposed, potentially reversing previous eradication work.
What's Being Done
Actions, solutions, and how to get involved
Organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and various NGOs, alongside researchers and public health advocates, are working to highlight the critical importance of sustained funding for neglected tropical disease elimination. They are advocating for continued U.S. government support through USAID and other global health initiatives, emphasizing the long-term health and economic benefits. Readers can get involved by contacting their elected officials to express support for robust USAID funding and by donating to reputable global health organizations dedicated to disease eradication.
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