Give a dog a bad name and hang it. That is what US President Donald Trump’s administration has done to the altruistic USAID. Trump and Elon Musk jointly described USAID as “criminal organisation run by radicle lunatics” in spite of relentless good the body has done in LMICs.
It must be acknowledged that the socio-economic implication of that reckless (if not buffoonery) decision is far-reaching. But that is outside the scope of this article. President John Kennedy initiated USAID in 1961 to uphold American values and protect its interests.
It would be difficult to recognise US without USAID which has brought happiness and relief to many people in LMICs afflicted by disease and desolate poverty.
Whereas US is and will be involved in an internecine moral struggle in the foreseeable future, the aim of this piece is to point out what suspension of aid means to disease surveillance and pandemic response in Africa and what African should do about it.
The National Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Lung Disease Programme, also supported by USAID estimates that Kenya has 133,000 TB cases of which 90,560 with drug susceptible tuberculosis (DSTB), and 752 with drug resistant tuberculosis (DRTB). Nearly one-third of TB cases are detected in later stages. Detection is supported by USAID.
According to the National Syndemic Disease Control and NASCOP, estimates, HIV prevalence is 4.5 per cent. It is 5.8 per cent among females and 3.1 per cent among males. In 2020, 1.5 million people living with HIV (PLWHIV) were composed of 108,807 children below 15, 145,471 youths aged 15-24, and 1,256, 127 adults.
The number has since grown in line with population progression. These patients get their lifeline through ARVs under PEPFAR programme initiated by President Bush. If we bring pandemics into perspective, the situation gets sorry.
The covid-19 pandemic recently claimed 7,010,681 lives globally, close to 300,000 in Africa, and 5,689 in Kenya. If the pandemic happened today it would be apocalyptic for the following reasons:
One, Trump has a well-chartered history of denying anything science from global warming to Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, as President, Trump suggested “injection” of disinfectant to persons infected with coronavirus. He again went ahead to suggest use of hydroxychloroquine. If this is not “radicle lunacy”, we have to come up with a more accurate phrase.
Two, USAID and CDC staffers deployed to India in the advent of Delta surge would be unemployed and fighting depression. The same would go for USAID and CDC staffers in all LMICs.
Three, the vaccine patent waiver would not happen since WHO is curtailed and emasculated.
Four, the pandemic treaty being negotiated by international negotiating body is facing challenges related to intellectual property rights, technology transfer, pathogen data sharing, sovereignty and espionage issues. The vacuum created in WHO would kill more people today.
In light of all this, what must Africa do today? A continent of 54 nations must be health-sufficient. Africa must look within and implement New Public Health Order. It must start by strengthening Africa CDC and invest enough resources to support disease surveillance and response. Member countries must review punitive tax regimes and incentivise drug companies to set up manufacturing firms locally.
Lastly, we can view the AID suspension as a blessing in disguise and sort out leadership gaps on the continent in a manner that is responsive to the demands of our time.
Africa must transform the conversation from AID and sponsorship to equal partnership and cross-technology transfer. Until she invests in her sciences, Africa will get what others give her, not what she needs.
-The writer is programs coordinator, LREB Advisory Committee, Great Lakes University of Kisumu
