The Cost (in lives) of Defunding USaid

Just 10 of the many programs run by USaid

Maternal and Child Health Programs: Higher maternal and infant mortality by reducing access to prenatal care, safe deliveries, and neonatal support. Cost in human life: 10,000-50,000 over 4 years.

Malaria Prevention and Control Programs: Reduced support for bed nets, indoor residual spraying, and treatment will lead to a resurgence of malaria in endemic areas. Cost in human life: 5,000-30,000 over 4 years.

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HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Programs: Less funding for prevention, testing, and antiretroviral therapy will reverse gains made in reducing HIV-related deaths. Cost in human life: 1,000-10,000 over 4 years.

Nutrition and Food Security Programs: Programs addressing malnutrition—especially in vulnerable populations—are critical; cuts will lead to increased deaths from starvation and weakened immunity. Cost in human life: 20,000-100,000 over 4 years.

Family Planning and Reproductive Health Programs: Reduced access to contraception and reproductive health services can contribute to higher maternal mortality and unsafe pregnancies. Cost in human life: 2,000-20,000 over 4 years.

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Programs: Cuts in WASH initiatives lead to higher rates of diarrheal diseases and other waterborne illnesses, particularly among children. Cost in human life: 1,000-15,000 over 4 years.

Immunization and Vaccine Delivery Programs: Diminished support for vaccination campaigns lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases such as measles, pneumonia, or polio - which can then travel to the USA. Cost in human life: 5,000-25,000 over 4 years.

Tuberculosis (TB) Programs: Reduced resources for TB detection and treatment result in higher TB transmission and mortality, especially in high-burden regions. Cost in human life: 2,000-15,000 over 4 years.

Pandemic Preparedness and Outbreak Response Programs: Cuts in these programs can delay detection and response to emerging infectious threats, potentially allowing outbreaks to worsen. Cost in human life: 1,000-5,000 over 4 years unless we get another covid like pandemic where the loss of life could skyrocket.