Malaria season is starting this month in many African countries, which is a big worry because malaria is very dangerous, especially for kids. The Trump administration has decided to cut 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts. This has local health officials worried that many people will get sick.
Dr. Jimmy Opigo, who leads Uganda’s malaria control program, told The Associated Press that the sudden end of many aid programs leaves them preparing for a disaster. The U.S. is the biggest donor in the fight against malaria in Africa. Opigo said that medicines and special mosquito nets are crucial for health. “We need these supplies regularly,” he emphasized. As these supplies run low, he fears there will be a significant rise in severe malaria cases this year, which can cause serious health issues like organ failure. Sadly, malaria has no cure, but a vaccine is being used in some areas, supported by a global vaccine alliance.
According to Malaria No More, a Washington-based organization, if the supply of malaria-control items is disrupted for just one year, there could be an extra 15 million cases and 107,000 more deaths from malaria worldwide. They have urged the Trump administration to restart important health programs before things get worse.
In 2023, Africa’s 1.5 billion people faced 95% of the 597,000 global malaria deaths, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Health workers in Nigeria, Congo, and Uganda, the three countries hardest hit by malaria, are beginning to feel the impact of the U.S. funding cuts.
The U.S. government provides hundreds of millions of dollars yearly to these countries through USAID’s President’s Malaria Initiative. This funding helps non-governmental organizations and charities provide malaria prevention and treatment services, especially in rural areas where people can’t afford to pay.
During 2023, Uganda recorded 12.6 million malaria cases and about 16,000 deaths, most of whom were children under five and pregnant women. Opigo mentioned that the U.S. usually donates around $30 million to $35 million each year for malaria control. He noted that various research projects have also been impacted by the cuts.
Some of the U.S. aid in Uganda was used to spray insecticides in certain areas to reduce mosquito populations. Those operations were supposed to start in February before the rainy season, when mosquitoes breed. Now, they have to wait. “We must spray before the rains, so the mosquitoes don’t multiply,” he explained.
Long lines of malaria patients usually form outside clinics every year. In Uganda, malaria makes up 30% to 50% of all visits to health facilities.
Nigeria and Congo
Nigeria has one-fourth of the world’s malaria cases but has seen malaria-related deaths drop by 55% since the year 2000 with the help of the U.S. and others. In 2023, the U.S. provided about $600 million to Nigeria for health care, though it’s unclear if all this funding will continue.
The President’s Malaria Initiative has given Nigeria nearly 164 million fast-acting medicines, 83 million special bed nets, and other treatments since 2011.
In Congo, U.S. funding has helped with around $650 million towards fighting malaria since 2010. However, the loss of this support might reverse some of the gains made in controlling malaria, making it hard to track outbreaks as supplies and skills for testing become sparse.
The worsening violence in eastern Congo has also put health workers at risk, making it even harder to help those in need. Dr. Yetunde Ayo-Oyalowo, who runs a nonprofit in Nigeria, warned that without significant support, many people will suffer because they can’t afford malaria treatment. Up to 40% of her patients are diagnosed with malaria.
Despite the cuts to USAID, some hope remains for continued U.S. funding through organizations like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. However, that group has not commented on the U.S. aid cuts.
Dr. Opigo in Uganda said other U.S. agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention might still offer aid. But he insists, “We need to be careful in how we work with the U.S
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