The UN World Health Organisation, WHO has warned that funding cut by the United States –Agency For International Development, USAID, is threatening decades of progress recorded in the fight against tuberculosis that is still one of the world’s deadliest infectious disease. The health agency highlighted that essential services like prevention, testing, and treatment are collapsing before their eyes, leaving millions vulnerable.
It disclosed that Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific are the worst hit regions, where their national TB programmes depend heavily on international support and donation.
Speaking yesterday in a statement, Director of WHO Global Programme on TB and Lung Health, Tereza Kasaeva said “Any disruption to TB services – whether financial, political or operational – can have devastating and often fatal consequences for millions worldwide” .
Recall, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres had on Feb. 24. also raised the alarm over funding cuts, noting that immediate impact on key health programmes like combating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and cholera were facing serious threat.
Over the past two decades, global TB programmes have played a vital role of saving about 79 million lives as well as averting 3.65 million others from deaths last year alone.
A significant portion of this success was been shouldered by US Government funding, which has provided about $200 to $250 million annually constituting one quarter of the total international donor funding secured.
The U.S. has been the largest bilateral donor for programmes of combating disease.
However, with the President Trump executive order of 2025 stopping the funding will have devastating impacts on TB response efforts in at least 18 of the high-burden countries, where 89 per cent of expected US funding was allocated for patient care.
Africa especially will be thrown into health chaos where treatment disruptions and staff layoffs could exponentially increase TB transmission rates.
So far, there are reports that especially TB-affected countries revealing that funding cut is already dismantling essential health services.
Among the pressing issues currently being experienced are health worker layoffs, drug shortages and supply chain breakdowns, data and surveillance systems collapse, and disruptions to TB research and funding.
“Without immediate action, hard-won progress in the fight against TB is at risk. Our collective response must be swift, strategic, and fully resourced to protect the most vulnerable and maintain momentum toward ending TB,” Kasaeva said.
WHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting governments and global partners in the fight against TB.
“In these challenging times, WHO remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting national governments, civil society and global partners in securing sustained funding and integrated solutions to safeguard the health and well-being of those most vulnerable to TB,” Kaeseva concluded.
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