Governments and global health groups are working to try to fill the most urgent gaps in the fight against diseases such as malaria and HIV, including sharing tests and treatments internationally, after the US government froze foreign aid funding.
The Trump administration said this week it has cut more than 80% of programmes, which health groups say threatens efforts to tackle deadly diseases across the globe. Some programmes have survived or been reinstated, but funding remains scarce, and the future unclear.
“We are trying to say to countries: OK, you have more commodities; your neighbouring country does not have them — could you potentially give them some until we figure out a way of going ahead?” said Michael Adekunle Charles, head of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria.
The World Health Organisation and other groups have also said they are working with countries to fill gaps in HIV testing and treatment, in a similar way to during the Covid-19 pandemic when countries shared resources to prevent shortages.