USAID Cuts Threaten HIV Treatment Access in Ukraine and Seven Other Countries

The decision by the US administration to suspend foreign aid has significantly disrupted the supply of antiretroviral drugs in several countries, potentially leaving millions of people without access to life-saving HIV treatment.

According to Reuters on March 18, citing the World Health Organization (WHO), Ukraine, Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria are facing an imminent shortage of essential HIV medications due to funding cuts from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the disruption of HIV treatment programs could reverse two decades of progress in combating the virus.

The organization estimates that the lack of access to medication could lead to more than 10 million additional HIV infections and three million related deaths in the coming years.

Efforts to combat HIV, polio, malaria, and tuberculosis have been affected by the suspension of US foreign aid, a policy implemented following the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January.

Ghebreyesus emphasized that the United States has a responsibility to ensure that any withdrawal of direct funding is conducted in a structured and humane manner, allowing affected countries to secure alternative financial sources.

The funding cuts have already impacted healthcare infrastructure in affected nations. As of early March, 167 medical facilities have ceased operations due to financial constraints, with more than 220 additional closures expected by June unless urgent measures are taken.

The WHO also reported that the coordinated Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network, which includes over 700 facilities worldwide, is at risk of immediate shutdown. This comes at a time when the US is experiencing a resurgence of measles cases.

Earlier, the US State Department ended a major USAID initiative aimed at restoring Ukraine’s energy grid, which has suffered repeated Russian attacks, NBC reports. The decision is part of a broader downsizing of USAID’s presence in Ukraine, reducing staff from 64 to just eight. Officials warn this could leave Ukraine’s grid vulnerable and signal decreased US commitment.