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The Trump administration has halted the supply of lifesaving drugs for HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and essential medical supplies for newborns in countries receiving USAID support, according to a memo obtained by Reuters.
On Tuesday, contractors and partners working with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were instructed to stop their operations immediately. This action is part of a broader freeze on U.S. aid and funding, initiated since Trump took office on January 20, as programs are being reviewed.
One of the memos was sent to Chemonics, a major U.S. consulting firm involved in the global supply of medicines. The memo affects the firm’s work related to HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, contraception, and maternal and child health supplies.
“This is catastrophic,” said Atul Gawande, the former head of global health at USAID, who left the agency this month. “Donated drug supplies keeping 20 million people with HIV alive are stopping today.”
via BBC