TB communities write open letter to U.S. President Trump asking him to rollback suspension of aid

TB communities write open letter to U.S. President Trump asking him to rollback suspension of aid

In an open letter to the United States President Donald J. Trump, representatives of communities affected by tuberculosis from across the world have expressed their “deep concern” over his decision to suspend foreign assistance programmes for 90 days.

Last week, the United States announced the suspension of all foreign aid and ordered the review of American financial assistance to other countries, to ensure they are efficient and consistent with its foreign policy under the America First agenda. A waiver was subsequently issued for life-saving humanitarian assistance.

The letter, from TB People, a global network of people affected by TB, and signed by the TB People organisations of over 20 countries, said that the U.S. has played a pivotal role in the fight against this disease, providing essential support through USAID and other mechanisms. These efforts have enabled millions to access timely prevention, treatment, diagnosis, care and support. The suspension of USAID programs threatens not only to worsen the epidemiological situation but also to create severe socio-economic challenges, it pointed out.

Listing the challenges TB-affected communities would face, the letter said the continuity of community-led initiatives such as support of healthcare workers, diagnostic networks, drug stocks would be affected; trust in healthcare systems would erode, and lead to reduced service coverage particularly in remote regions; social resilience would be impacted, including in areas of income loss, nutritional support and stigma reduction; education and outreach programmes would suffer and demand creation for new tools in drugs and diagnostics from the private sector, would also be hampered.

The letter said that while the importance of ensuring transparency and efficiency in the use of resources was understood, even a temporary suspension of funding could have devastating consequences for millions of people worldwide. It asked for a reconsideration of the decision to suspend USAID funding for TB programmes. “Doing so will save lives, sustain communities that are on the frontlines of the fight against TB, and ensure access to the quality healthcare for everyone in need,” it said.