TBFIGHTERS

The Freeze

In the first week of the new administration an executive order halting all foreign aid was issued. This includes USAID funding, which is crucial to the fight against TB. USAID funding allows people across the world to get the needed medicine and tests for a plethora of diseases, including TB. The order also froze crucial funding for HIV/AIDS treatment & prevention programs under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

On Tuesday, the Secretary of State issued a temporary waiver for some medical care. It is unclear if TB & HIV/AIDS treatment and testing is included in the waiver. On Wednesday, the administration rescinded the memo on the funding freeze. But it is unclear if this affects the executive order freezing the funds. All this confusion makes the future of these funds extremely uncertain.

The Impact

A reduction in funding would lead to many deaths. Without access to antibiotics, patients currently receiving treatment and many more who are not yet diagnosed will die of tuberculosis. In addition, even a short pause in treatment can lead to antibiotic resistance. Resistant strains of tuberculosis are dangerous because they are harder and more expensive to treat.

The impact of pausing PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) could be particularly disastrous. To date, PEPFAR has saved the lives of over 26 million people. HIV and TB form a lethal combination, each speeding the other's progress. Individuals with HIV are 16 times more likely to fall ill with tuberculosis, and TB is the leading cause of death in people with HIV.

These actions will be devastating for the fight against TB, HIV, and other global diseases