USAID Funding Cuts Impact On Uganda
The Trump Administration’s decision to cut funding for humanitarian aid is having a devastating impact on developing countries around the world. Although Soft Power Health is not a direct recipient of USAID funds, we are one of many NGOs affected by the shortage of life-saving and health-improving interventions USAID has provided in Uganda for many years.
A malnourished child is examined at the Soft Power Health clinic.
The USAID funding cuts are disproportionally hitting the poorest of the poor and the most destitute. Many of the great strides we have made over the years in reducing malnutrition and malaria are now at risk of being reversed. With the closure of USAID-funded health services across Uganda, Soft Power Health’s clinic is seeing an influx of new patients.
Daily clinic patient intake numbers continue to climb as a result of the USAID funding cuts.
Our already stretched capacity is being tested. This will continue as USAID-funded healthcare providers such TASO and Family Hope, who deliver free HIV testing, treatment, and counseling, have been shuttered. The loss of access to antiretroviral medication caused by these closures is a death sentence for thousands of people. Similarly, TB testing will be much harder — if not impossible — for people to access. Losing testing and treatment options for millions of people means these communicable diseases will again become major causes of morbidity and mortality not only for Ugandans, but also the world.
(l) Dr. Jessie examines a patient's x-ray showing fulminant tuberculosis. (r) Lab technician Mary draws blood at the Soft Power Health clinic laboratory.
Since the Ugandan government’s USAID-supported mosquito net importation and distribution program has shut down, Ugandans will rely more on the nets Soft Power Health sells at subsidized prices. While we purchase and import our own mosquito nets, our current stock will not be enough to meet the increased demand. Once our supply runs out — before we can fund and receive a new shipment — many Ugandans will be at risk of malaria infection and death. This includes the two groups who die most from malaria: children under 5 and pregnant women. Mosquito nets are among the most cost effective means of preventing malaria, and prevention is better and cheaper than any cure.
Pregnant women and children under five years old are at the greatest risk of dying from malaria,
which they are more likely to get if they don't sleep under a mosquito net every night.
which they are more likely to get if they don't sleep under a mosquito net every night.
In addition, the USAID-funded family planning supplies we provide at both the clinic and through outreach are no longer available. Over 5,000 women a year, 85% of whom live in remote rural communities surviving on $1 per day, rely on Soft Power Health for family planning. Without access to birth control methods, these women will have no family planning options, putting their lives and families’ well-being in jeopardy. For the past 20 years, Soft Power Health has documented how unplanned and large families contribute to higher rates of malnutrition and malaria in children. While each disease can be deadly on its own, together they form a lethal combination.
A young mother receives injectable family planning methods at a Soft Power Health education outreach session.
We recognize this is an inopportune time to ask for more help, especially after your generous end-of-year donations, but this crisis was sudden and unforeseen. Please, if you are able, help us cover the unexpected costs of life-saving supplies needed to treat the growing number of patients due to this emergency.
As always, we are grateful for your ongoing support and partnership.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Jessie Stone, MD
Founder and Executive Director
Soft Power Health
Founder and Executive Director
Soft Power Health