In February, the US government froze its foreign aid through USAID. The Trump administration plans to reduce USAID staff by more than 90%. Atul Gawande, USAID’s former global health assistant administrator, posted on X that the agency’s workforce would be slashed from 14,000 to 294 – with only 12 staff assigned to Africa.
This was soon followed by the UK Prime Minister announcing that the government would “fully fund our increased investment in defence” by reducing aid spending from 0.5% of gross national income (GNI) to 0.3% in 2027.
How will these major cuts affect not-for-profit health facilities like Kiwoko Hospital?
Uganda’s health sector is heavily reliant on donor funding, which supports 70% of its AIDS/HIV initiatives. For decades, the US has been Africa’s most significant public health partner. In particular through its ground-breaking programme to counter the global spread of HIV, Pepfar, it has saved more than 25 million lives.
Winnie Byanyima, the head of UNAIDs, told the BBC’s Africa Daily podcast;
“If you take away this major contribution by the United States government, we expect that in the next five years, there’ll be an additional 6.3 million Aids-related deaths,”
For Kiwoko Hospital in particular, HIV services had to be partially suspended earlier this year after the USAID decisions. While the majority of facilities across Uganda had to lay off staff, Kiwoko has worked hard to keep on a reduced number, and the rest of counsellors on half-pay, despite there being currently no income for their salaries. We thank God that through this determination, to provide for both the patients and staff, services have been able to largely resume, with funding available until at least September. But the future still looks very unsure.
The Ugandan Ministry of Health has recently announced a requirement to integrate specialised clinics (HIV, Sickle Cell, Diabetic etc.) into the regular Outpatient services. Pray for wisdom for the hospital management in how to meet this requirement yet not lose the specialised care being currently provided by such clinics. The mental health and epilepsy clinic funding has gone, so there are no longer free drugs for clients. A significant number who attend this clinic are particularly vulnerable so numbers attending have drastically reduced.
Kiwoko’s Community Health team had previously provided rehabilitation services for people with physical challenges, who couldn’t travel to the hospital. They also delivered Health education topics such as hygiene, including better sanitation arrangements, and nutrition. Now, due to the cut in funding, it has been pulled back to just vaccinations.
At Friends of Kiwoko we hope to support the hospital through this worrying time. Our fear is that individuals who have long supported their brothers and sisters in Africa, may come to agree with the stance of governments throughout the world, of looking after our own, at the expense of the vulnerable in places like Kiwoko.
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus teaches that true neighbourly love extends to everyone, even perceived enemies, by showing compassion and helping those in need, as exemplified by the Samaritan who cared for a wounded traveller. Friends of Kiwoko will continue to stand with our neighbours in Uganda and pray that our supporters will too.
Tania.
