Trump admin set to destroy vital HIV meds and contraceptives worth $12 million following closure of USAID
The Trump administration may destroy $12 million worth of HIV and birth control medicines. These medicines were bought by USAID, a U.S. government group that helps people in poor countries. Trump closed USAID in January, and since then, the medicine has been left unused in warehouses in Belgium and the UAE, according to The Washington Post.
Now, officials are being told: 'Sell the medicine or trash it', according to someone familiar with the case. The supplies have 26 million condoms, 2 million birth control shots, millions of birth control pills, hundreds of thousands of implants, and over 50,000 bottles of HIV-prevention medicine., as per reports.
These were supposed to go to 18 different countries, but now they may never get them. A senior U.S. State Department official told The Independent the story is 'fake news' and full of errors. But Dr. Atul Gawande, who worked at USAID before, said destroying the medicine is something he just can't imagine.
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Andrew Natsios, a former USAID head, called the idea 'crazy' and said, 'Why not just give the medicine to people instead of throwing it away?' Trump stopped USAID's spending because he said it was 'not in line with American interests.' The Trump team also plans to ask Congress to cut $8.3 billion from global aid programs, including for climate and LGBTQ+ support, as per the report by The Independent.
Big consequences
Experts say ending USAID could stop progress on fighting AIDS. AIDS-related deaths could rise from 6 million to 10 million in the next 5 years. 3.4 million more kids could lose a parent to AIDS. 600,000 more babies could be born with HIV by 2030.
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Prof. Francois Venter, a top HIV doctor from South Africa, said, 'The progress we made in 20 years will be reversed.' Hadja, a 27-year-old mom in Uganda, told The Independent she already lost access to her HIV medicine. She said, 'Without medicine, our lives become shorter. If I die, my children will suffer,' according to The Independent.
FAQs
Q1. Why might HIV and birth control medicines be destroyed?
Because USAID was shut down and the medicines are stored with no plan to send them out.
Q2. What could happen if these medicines are not used?
More people could get sick and die from AIDS, and many children could lose their parents.
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