USAID once stood as a symbol of America’s care to the world. It was built on a promise. JFK declared our duty as leaders. Today, that legacy fades and the global community pays the price. This is a wake-up call for our generation.
The agency helped low-income nations get food, water, and health care. It supported education and fought deadly diseases. It even helped spread democratic dreams. Now, the doors are closing. With USAID shuttered, millions of vulnerable people face a harsher reality.
The shutdown began right after Trump returned to the White House. Elon Musk, a tech giant and one-time Trump ally, labeled USAID as riddled with “corruption and waste.” This view ignores the impact it had worldwide. Former leaders like Bush and Obama called the move a tragedy. Their words remind us that saving lives should matter more than cutting budgets.
Recent studies give us a heavy count. The Lancet estimated that USAID saved over 90 million lives from 2001 to 2021. Looking ahead, experts warn that its closure may claim about 14 million lives by 2030. This includes 4.5 million babies and toddlers. We lose more than funds; we lose futures.
Let’s talk HIV and AIDS. President Bush launched PEPFAR in 2003 to fight the disease. The program reached 20.6 million people and helped over half a million children. It also provided HIV testing for millions. USAID played a major role in making PEPFAR effective. Now, with the cuts, research shows that up to 630,000 additional HIV-related deaths could occur each year. This setback will hit sub-Saharan Africa the hardest. Clearly, progress in public health hangs by a thread.
Similarly, USAID’s war on malaria now stands undone. The agency pumped $9 billion into programs such as the President’s Malaria Initiative. Those efforts kept millions safe from a curable yet deadly disease. Revised forecasts suggest nearly 10 million more malaria cases may emerge within a year. Shockingly, 7 million of these cases could affect children. These numbers paint a grim picture for communities that already face daily struggles.
The crisis is not confined to traditional hotspots. Sudan, a nation already battered by conflict and famine, now teeters on a new cliff. Over half of Sudan’s 50 million people depend on external help. With the cuts, an estimated 5 million people might lose access to lifesaving health services. Local experts warn that the situation may worsen into the deadliest famine seen in decades.
Our generation sees change through every beat of music and every lyrical truth. We value justice, equality, and community. We must call for clarity and accountability. The dismantling of USAID is more than a policy flip; it is a betrayal of our moral obligations. It is a betrayal of generations that believed in turning aid into hope.
Now is the time to rally for better leadership. Let’s remind our policymakers that life-saving programs are investments in global stability. We need to harness our energy to protect the vulnerable. This struggle belongs not only to world leaders, but to all of us who believe in change. The legacy of USAID must ignite our fight for human rights, dignity, and justice worldwide.
SOURCE:
World – TIME
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