‘People will die,’ says Canadian charity in Kenya as Trump’s USAID cuts threaten HIV medications

In Nanyuki, a market town just northwest of Mount Kenya, concerns are rising among foreign aid workers and volunteers about the potential impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on the local population. Rex Taylor, co-founder and president of The Small Project, a Canadian charity that supports education in rural Kenya, expressed his worries during his recent visit to Nanyuki, stating that he believes people may die unnecessarily as a result of the cuts.

Kenya has a high prevalence of HIV, with approximately 1.4 million Kenyans living with the virus. The country relies heavily on U.S. funding for HIV-related spending, with 29% of the budget coming from direct U.S. assistance. Antiretroviral medication, which stops HIV from replicating in the body, is a critical component of treatment for those living with the virus. The potential loss of access to these life-saving medications is a major concern for aid workers like Taylor.

One individual at the forefront of Taylor’s concerns is Joseph Awoi, a 20-year-old aspiring culinary student in Nanyuki who is deaf and HIV-positive. Awoi has been receiving educational support from The Small Project, and is set to attend a culinary program in Nairobi in May. While Awoi’s education funding is not tied to USAID, his access to antiretrovirals is crucial for his health and well-being.

The recent announcement of the cancellation of nearly 10,000 foreign aid grants and contracts by the Trump administration has sent shockwaves through the global humanitarian community. The closure of USAID, which accounted for 90% of the agency’s global work, has disrupted ongoing relief efforts and left vulnerable populations at risk.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the severe cuts in U.S. foreign assistance, noting that the reduction in humanitarian aid would have devastating consequences for the world’s most vulnerable people. The impact of these cuts is already being felt in countries like Kenya, where programs combatting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria have been halted.

In response to the funding cuts, Kenya’s Ministry of Health has vowed to sustain HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs. However, without a strong contingency plan in place, the abrupt end to PEPFAR funding could have dire consequences for those relying on antiretroviral therapy.

The University of Manitoba, in collaboration with local agencies in Nairobi, has been working to combat HIV through programs funded by PEPFAR since 2003. The potential loss of this funding would disrupt essential services like HIV testing, preventive treatment, and antiretroviral therapy, putting individuals at greater risk of transmission and mortality.

In Nanyuki, the uncertainty surrounding the future of HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs has left aid workers like Taylor deeply concerned. He remains committed to supporting individuals like Joseph Awoi, even if it means personally covering the cost of medications through his charity. However, the broader impact of the USAID cuts on the Kenyan population remains a looming question mark.

As the world grapples with the fallout of the USAID shutdown, it is clear that the consequences will be far-reaching and potentially devastating. The fate of individuals like Joseph Awoi serves as a stark reminder of the human impact of political decisions made thousands of miles away. The international community must come together to find solutions that ensure the continuity of lifesaving programs and support for those most in need.