WASHINGTON — The Trump administration signed the first of dozens of “America First” documents. global health financing agreements which will prioritize the control of infectious diseases in countries deemed to be in compliance with the presidential order. broader foreign policy goals and positions.
A five-year, $2.5 billion deal with Kenya was signed Thursday by Kenyan President William Ruto and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to replace the patchwork previous health care agreements which was traditionally run by the US Agency for International Development for decades until the Trump administration took it apart earlier this year.
elimination of USAID as a separate agency caused widespread criticism and concern in the global health community, as its immediate consequences led to the withdrawal of funding from several hundred programs targeting developing countries, including cuts in spending on maternal and child health. nutrition And HIV/AIDS programs.
Rubio said the agreement with Kenya “seeks to strengthen U.S. leadership and dominance in global health while eliminating dependency, ideology, inefficiency and waste in our foreign aid architecture.” He also praised Kenya for its role in leading and facilitating the international stabilization force working to fight powerful gangs in Haiti.
Ruto praised the agreement and said Kenya will continue to play a role in Haiti as gang suppression force transition to a broader operation.
Under the health care agreement with Kenya, the US will contribute $1.7 billion of the total, with the Kenyan government covering the remaining $850 million. The agreement focuses on the prevention and treatment of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, with an emphasis on religious health workers, although all clinics and hospitals covered by Kenya's health insurance system will be eligible to receive funding, according to US officials.
“This collaborative framework represents a departure from the past and will have a lasting impact on health for all,” said Ouma Oluga, Kenya's Principal Secretary for Health Services.
Family planning programs that comply with U.S. restrictions on providing abortion services will also be eligible, according to Jeremy Levin and Brad Smith, two State Department officials involved in the negotiations. They said the agreement would not discriminate against gay and transgender people or sex workers.
A number of other African countries are expected to sign similar agreements with the US by the end of the year, officials said, although the continent's two most populous countries – Nigeria and South Africa – will not be included in the group due to political differences with Trumpaccording to Levin and Smith.
Dismantling USAID consequences for all of Africaclosing programs that fought disease and hunger and supported maternal health, and even some that fought extremism and promoted democracy. It also put thousands of health care workers out of work as their salaries were financed by US aid.
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Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa.
