USAID Cuts Could Leave Eight Countries Without HIV Treatments

• Mar 18, 2025

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that eight countries could soon run out of HIV medications due to disruptions caused by the Trump administration’s decision to pause U.S. foreign aid. The funding halt has significantly affected the supply of life-saving HIV treatments, putting millions at risk.

Countries Facing Shortages

According to WHO, Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, and Ukraine are at risk of exhausting their HIV medication supplies in the coming months. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned that these disruptions could reverse two decades of progress in combating HIV. He warned that the crisis could lead to over 10 million new HIV cases and three million deaths.

The U.S. foreign aid pause was introduced by President Donald Trump shortly after taking office in January, impacting efforts to fight diseases such as HIV, polio, malaria, and tuberculosis. WHO officials say the consequences are already being felt, and urgent action is needed to prevent a major public health crisis.

Impact on Global Health Programs

Beyond HIV treatment shortages, the funding cut has also placed the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network at risk. The network, which has over 700 sites worldwide, may soon shut down. This comes at a time when measles cases are rising again in the United States, increasing concerns about global disease outbreaks.

Ghebreyesus urged the U.S. government to handle foreign aid changes more responsibly. "If the United States withdraws direct funding for countries, it must be done in an orderly and humane way to allow them to find alternative sources of funding," he said.

Afghanistan’s Health System at Risk

In addition to HIV treatment shortages, WHO revealed that 80% of its essential health care programs in Afghanistan could close due to funding shortages. Since March 4, 167 health facilities in the country have already shut down, and without urgent financial support, more than 220 additional facilities could close by June.

WHO’s Financial Challenges

The U.S. has also announced plans to exit WHO, further straining the organization’s budget. The U.S. typically provides about 20% of WHO’s annual funding, and the funding cut has forced the agency to freeze hiring and reduce its budget. WHO has announced plans to lower its emergency operations funding target from $1.2 billion to $872 million for the 2026-2027 period.

The funding crisis highlights the importance of stable international aid in maintaining global health programs and preventing the spread of deadly diseases.