WASHINGTON, D.C., July 1 (ANI): A recent study has issued a dire warning that over 14 million people could die within the next five years due to significant cuts in U.S. financial aid to global health programs, potentially reversing decades of progress in disease prevention and public health, Khaama Press reported.
According to U.S. media reports published on Monday, the reductions in funding for programs supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) could critically impact vulnerable populations worldwide. These programs have historically played a pivotal role in preventing nearly 92 million deaths across 133 countries.
The study underscores the magnitude of USAID’s impact, noting that its initiatives have helped avert over 25 million deaths from AIDS and polio, approximately 11 million from diarrheal diseases, 8 million from malaria, and nearly 5 million from tuberculosis. Health experts warn that the drastic reduction in funding threatens to undo these life-saving gains.
In March, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that 83 percent of USAID programs would be cut, arguing that these efforts no longer align with U.S. national interests. The decision has sparked concern among global health experts and humanitarian organizations, who view these programs as essential for combating preventable diseases in some of the world’s most fragile health systems.
A multinational team of researchers from Spain, Brazil, and the United States analyzed the potential impact of the cuts. Their findings predict millions of additional deaths in areas heavily reliant on U.S. aid for disease prevention, treatment, and healthcare infrastructure.
The effects are already being felt in countries like Afghanistan, where U.S. health aid has decreased by 40 percent. Approximately 400 health centers have been forced to close due to lack of funding, significantly reducing access to critical medical services and leaving millions exposed to avoidable illness and death, according to Khaama Press.
The sharp reduction in U.S. foreign health aid marks a potentially devastating reversal of global health progress. Analysts warn that unless swift and decisive action is taken, the consequences will be severe—particularly for low-income nations grappling with fragile healthcare systems.
The global health community has called on the United States to reassess its position on foreign aid, emphasizing that sustained investment in humanitarian and health programs is essential to preserving hard-won progress. Failure to do so, they argue, could result in catastrophic human loss and long-term setbacks in the fight against infectious and preventable diseases. (ANI)
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