In a small Tanzanian clinic, Sophia Mwenda’s trembling hands gripped the edge of a wooden bench as she received devastating news.
She had walked six miles under the blistering sun to collect her antiretroviral medication, only to be told the clinic had run out.
For years, millions like Mwenda have relied on US-funded programs for life-saving treatments, but the Trump administration’s aid freeze has brought these programs to a standstill.
With Washington abruptly halting new foreign aid spending, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) suspended operations overnight.
Health clinics, NGOs, and humanitarian organizations across Africa are now struggling to continue vital services without crucial American support.
The impact has been immediate, with HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, maternal health, and food security programs facing severe disruptions.
UNAIDS warns that at least one million people could soon lose access to HIV treatment, leading to preventable deaths.
The Global Fund, which has saved millions from malaria and tuberculosis, now faces funding gaps that could result in a surge of new infections.
Meanwhile, USAID-supported maternal and child healthcare programs have been suspended, leaving millions of women and children vulnerable.
In Uganda, health officials warn that Ebola surveillance efforts are weakening just as the threat of an outbreak looms large.
Across the continent, economic turmoil is intensifying as thousands of health workers and NGO employees lose their jobs.
Experts warn that worsening poverty and food insecurity could fuel instability, pushing desperate communities toward conflict.
“The US may see this as budget control, but for Africa, it’s a catastrophe,” said analyst Samuel Okello.
As global organizations scramble to fill the gap, millions of lives hang in the balance, waiting for a solution that may never come.
