Tuberculosis Resurgent as Trump Funding Cut Disrupts Treatment Globally
Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly contagious bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. Despite advances in treatment and prevention, TB remains a major global health threat, with an estimated 10 million new cases and 1.4 million deaths annually.
In recent years, TB has been making a comeback, with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring it a global health emergency in 1993. The rise of drug-resistant strains of TB, inadequate access to healthcare, and social determinants such as poverty and homelessness have all contributed to the resurgence of the disease.
One of the biggest challenges in the fight against TB is funding. In 2018, the Trump administration announced a 20% cut in funding for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) global health programs, including TB treatment and prevention efforts. This decision has had a ripple effect globally, as the US is the largest single funder of global TB programs.
The funding cut has disrupted TB treatment programs in countries around the world, leading to shortages of medications, delays in diagnosis, and a lack of support services for patients. In some cases, patients have been forced to go without treatment or receive substandard care, increasing the risk of further spread of the disease.
In addition to the funding cut, the Trump administration’s policies on immigration and refugees have also had a negative impact on the fight against TB. Restrictions on refugee resettlement and asylum seekers have limited access to healthcare for vulnerable populations, including those at high risk for TB.
The global health community has sounded the alarm on the resurgent TB crisis, calling for increased funding and support for TB programs worldwide. In 2018, world leaders committed to end the TB epidemic by 2030 at the United Nations High-Level Meeting on TB, but progress has been slow due to funding shortages and other challenges.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, the resurgence of TB poses an additional threat to global health security. TB is one of the leading causes of death for people living with HIV/AIDS, and the two diseases often coexist in vulnerable populations. Without adequate funding and support for TB programs, progress in the fight against the disease will be further hampered.
It is crucial for governments, donors, and the global health community to prioritize TB funding and support, especially in low- and middle-income countries where the burden of the disease is greatest. Investing in TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment is not only a moral imperative but also a sound public health strategy to protect populations from the threat of this resurgent disease.