Trump order set to halt supply of HIV, malaria drugs to poor countries: Sources

Trump administration halts USAID work, impacting HIV, malaria, and TB treatment, risking lives and global health programs.

The Trump administration has moved to stop the supply of lifesaving drugs for HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, as well as medical supplies for newborn babies, in countries supported by USAID around the globe, a memo reviewed by Reuters showed.

On Tuesday (January 27, 2025), contractors and partners who work with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) began receiving such memos to stop work immediately, sources said. The move is part of a wider freeze on U.S. aid and funding put in place since Trump took office on Jan. 20, while programmes are reviewed.

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One such memo went to Chemonics, a large U.S. consulting firm which works with USAID on the supply of medicines for a range of conditions worldwide.

The memo covers the firm's work on HIV, malaria and tuberculosis as well as contraception and maternal and child health supplies, one USAID source and one former USAID official told Reuters.

"This is catastrophic," said Atul Gawande, former head of global health at USAID who left the agency this month. "Donated drug supplies keeping 20 million people living with HIV alive. That stops today."

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