US Ends Zimbabwe Health Aid Covering 40% of HIV Spending After Deal Rejection
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 30
US Ends Zimbabwe Health Aid Covering 40% of HIV Spending After Deal Rejection
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 30
Summary
Washington will terminate U.S.-funded health programs in Zimbabwe, including HIV and infectious-disease support, and gave partners a short unspecified window to close operations.
The cutoff followed Harare’s rejection of an “America First” aid pact that Zimbabwean officials said was lopsided and threatened sovereignty, with a health-data sharing clause emerging as the main sticking point.
More than 40% of Zimbabwe’s HIV spending had been backed by the United States, and about 1.3 million people in the country are estimated to be HIV-positive.
Zimbabwe says it will raise domestic spending and seek more money from the Global Fund and other partners, but health workers and activists warn there is no clear replacement plan and fear a public-health crisis.
The move fits the Trump administration’s broader overhaul of foreign aid: the State Department says it has signed 35 health deals, while critics say the terms slash funding and pressure poorer countries.