A Wake-Up Call for Africa, USAID

A Wake-Up Call for Africa, USAID On January 20, President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on foreign aid. The decision had profound repercussions and caused great concern worldwide, especially in Africa. What is USAID and what is its mission? The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent U.S. government agency established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. This freeze affected all financial assistance provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID is primarily funded through the U.S. federal budget. This means that the money USAID spends on its programs and initiatives comes from U.S. taxpayer dollars. In addition to the federal budget, USAID can also receive additional funding from other sources, such as international organizations or private donations. USAID is responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development cooperation worldwide. USAID focuses on several areas, including: - Global health: Providing vaccinations and combating diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. - Disaster relief: Assisting countries in recovering from natural disasters. - Socioeconomic development: Promoting economic prosperity and democratic governance. - Environmental protection: Supporting projects to conserve natural resources and combat climate change. USAID operates in over 100 countries and employs over 10,000 staff, a significant portion of whom are overseas. In 2023, USAID provided a total of $12.1 billion to countries in sub-Saharan Africa to improve healthcare, provide food assistance, and promote security. Importantly, USAID distributes funds for the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the global fund to fight AIDS. Approximately 25.6 million people live with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for over two-thirds of the world's HIV-infected population. This region is particularly hard hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with women and girls making up a disproportionate share of those infected. It's therefore no surprise that this 90-day funding freeze has caused major problems in Africa. All these people living with HIV are facing an uncertain future. This funding freeze is no coincidence. There are reasons behind it. The Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital (TPTH) deserves special mention here. The hospital is a key training center for medical professionals and treats over 280,000 patients annually. It faced challenges such as overcrowding and inadequate equipment, leading to initiatives such as the establishment of a new wound care unit. Recent developments include disciplinary actions against officials following corruption investigations and improvements to mental health services. In some cases, this led to preventable deaths. This hospital, a public institution under the auspices of the Gauteng Department of Health, South Africa, is a prominent example of the enormous deprivation caused by corrupt practices. In August 2024, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), an independent agency of the South African government responsible for investigating abuses of office in state-owned enterprises, reported that corruption networks had caused the institution financial losses of over R3 billion. It stated that there was evidence that senior hospital staff were involved in these illegal activities. The excessive spending, waste, and fraud at TPTH are unfortunately representative of a widespread trend. Kenya has the opportunity to free itself from the grip of the US aid industry and support orphanages like the Nyumbani Children's Home with its own resources. This home provides comprehensive care for over 100 HIV-positive children, offering medical, nutritional, educational, and psychological support. The goal of the home is to prepare the children for reintegration into society through life skills and education. Nyumbani is part of the Children of God Relief Institute (COGRI), which also runs other programs such as Nyumbani Village and Lea Toto. The organization is supported by international bodies and focuses on providing holistic care for HIV-infected children. However, this can only succeed if the Kenyan government takes decisive action against corruption, reviews its public spending, and focuses on improving effective governance. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has found that corruption costs Kenya an estimated 608 billion Kenyan shillings (4.7 billion US dollars) annually, equivalent to 7.8 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP). Nairobi has a responsibility to care for its most vulnerable citizens. But the indifference of Kenya's politicians to their well-being and the well-being of the country is worrying. These politicians only care about their own well-being. The children of the Nyumbani Children's Home should not have to rely on Washington for HIV/AIDS treatment.

@al jaseera