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Elon “Tuberculosis” Musk: The Man Who Wants Us All to Cough Blood [1]
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Date: 2025-03-10
Over the past two decades, global efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB) have achieved remarkable success, saving more than 79 million lives, 3.65 million last year alone. These achievements have been largely driven by critical foreign aid, especially from USAID, which has provided approximately $200–$250 million annually in funding for TB response.
However, recent funding cuts threaten to reverse this progress, endangering millions of lives, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that heavily rely on international aid. The United States has been the largest donor, and these cuts put 18 of the highest burden countries at risk, as they depended on 89% of the expected U.S. funding for TB care. The WHO’s African Region is hardest hit by these funding disruptions, followed by the South-East Asian and Western Pacific Regions.
Devastating Impact on TB Programs
The funding cuts have led to the dismantling of essential services, threatening the global fight against TB. Thousands of health workers in high-burden countries are facing layoffs, while technical assistance roles have been suspended, crippling national TB programs. Drug supply chains are breaking down due to staff suspensions, lack of funds, and data failures, jeopardizing access to TB treatment and prevention services. Laboratory services are severely disrupted, with sample transportation, procurement delays, and shortages of essential consumables halting diagnostic efforts. Data and surveillance systems are collapsing, undermining routine reporting and drug resistance monitoring. Community engagement efforts—including active case finding, screening, and contact tracing—are deteriorating, reducing early TB detection and increasing transmission risks.
WHO's Call to Action
Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global Programme on TB and Lung Health, emphasized the urgency of the situation: "Any disruption to TB services—whether financial, political, or operational—can have devastating and often fatal consequences for millions worldwide." She highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic led to over 700,000 excess deaths from TB between 2020 and 2023 due to service interruptions, exacerbated by inadequate social protection measures. Dr. Kasaeva warned that without immediate action, hard-won progress in the fight against TB is at risk, and the collective response must be swift, strategic, and fully resourced to protect the most vulnerable and maintain momentum toward ending TB.
Reversals and Ongoing Uncertainty
In response to global outcry, some lifesaving health projects that had their U.S. funding contracts abruptly terminated have received letters reversing that decision. However, these organizations report that their work remains in limbo as funding has not yet been restarted. The abrupt funding cuts have sent shockwaves across the global aid community, and while some reversals have occurred, the overall situation remains precarious.
Please tell your Members of Congress to support humanitarian aid. You can find their name and phone number here .
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