In brief
Dmytro Sherembey, an HIV-positive advocate in Ukraine, highlights the critical role of USAID in his health and that of others as the agency faces uncertainty after funding cuts sparked by political criticism, potentially impacting vulnerable populations worldwide.
Dmytro Sherembey, an HIV-positive advocate from Ukraine, believes his life was saved by the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He has lived with HIV for 24 years and asserts that the agency has been paramount in controlling the virus's spread in his country. Sherembey remarks, "Every second HIV-positive person in Ukraine was identified thanks to this programme." However, the future of USAID is clouded by uncertainty following recent political rows. After his election, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to pause foreign aid allocations for 90 days to conduct a review. Trump has labeled USAID as operated by "radical left lunatics" and accused the agency of "tremendous fraud" without substantiating his claims. Sherembey, who leads 100% Life, Ukraine's largest patient-led organization, recounts the devastation experienced since Russia's invasion in 2022, with essential HIV medication supplies destroyed in bombings. "USAID's assistance was crucial for acquiring replacement medications swiftly,” he explains. He strongly emphasizes the fragile state of funding, noting, “This aid could be stopped by the decision of one person.”Founded in 1961, USAID plays a significant role in global health, food security, and education, with a budget nearing $40 billion. Its projects rely heavily on partnerships with various organizations, ensuring critical services remain operational, especially in crisis-affected regions like Afghanistan, which significantly depends on USAID for maternal and child healthcare.Recent funding pauses have left many healthcare organizations in Afghanistan, including a doctor funded by USAID, scrambling to manage the staffing and service delivery crises. "If the funding halt continues, mothers will be forced to give birth at home as facilities close, increasing mortality rates," warns a midwife. Beyond healthcare, USAID supports vital work in cybersecurity and education, with numerous NGOs in places like Iran relying on its funding to protect activists and provide scholarships for students. Changes to funding expose individuals’ futures to potential jeopardy, with students fearing their educational opportunities may be curtailed drastically.Yet, the viability of shuttering USAID remains ambiguous. A substantial legislative overhaul would be required to dismantle the agency, a pursuit complicated by Trump’s barely-held Republican majority in Congress. Plans have emerged to merge USAID with the State Department, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio assuming temporary leadership of the agency.For individuals like Sherembey, the stakes are enormous. He expresses concern for his health and future, emphasizing, “If my hospital runs out of this medication, I will have to search for it elsewhere,” highlighting the critical reliance on aid. As one of many who depend on USAID funding, Sherembey laments, "It is barbaric that we have returned to the Stone Age."
