Africa’s Malaria Fight Undermined by U.S. Aid Cuts Amid Soaring Health Crises

Edited by: Widad WAHBI

As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) battles surging conflict and humanitarian collapse, health systems are facing a blow from another front: shrinking U.S. aid for malaria programs. In Goma, a city torn by militia violence, Congolese mother Mwayuma Idi Feza watches helplessly as her baby battles malaria. With barely enough money for food, life-saving treatment is out of reach.

Malaria remains a leading cause of death in the DRC, which accounts for the second-highest global malaria burden after Nigeria. In 2022 alone, more than 24,000 people died from the disease in the DRC—over half of them children under five, according to the World Health Organization.

But just as prevention gains were being made, the Trump administration initiated steep cuts to USAID funding—reportedly slashing support for malaria efforts by 36%. The cuts have triggered a collapse in supply chains for mosquito nets, medicine, and even prenatal preventive care across “many health zones,” according to Michel Itabu, a former spokesperson for the country’s malaria control program.

The United States has long led the global fight against malaria, with the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), launched by President George W. Bush in 2005, helping cut malaria deaths by over 60%. But under the current administration, the program faces a proposed 47% budget cut, leading to widespread layoffs and suspended operations. Experts warn this reversal could dismantle decades of progress.

Former USAID workers stress that surveillance systems—key in tracking malaria and other outbreaks—have been gutted. Without global monitoring, cases like the locally acquired malaria outbreak in Florida in 2023 could become more frequent.

Health advocates argue that malaria prevention is not just humanitarian—it’s strategic. The U.S. military has invested in malaria vaccine research to protect troops, and USAID programs have been used to counter soft power efforts by China and Iran in Africa. “When American aid disappears, trust in local health systems begins to erode,” said former contractor Annē Linn.

The repercussions are already visible. In Malawi, where more than 2,000 died of malaria last year, 9 million cases were recorded. National malaria coordinator Lumbani Munthali warned that USAID funding cuts have left “critical gaps,” especially as the country battles post-flood outbreaks.

Across the region, the timing is dire. The rainy season—malaria’s peak—has arrived, and with fewer bed nets and preventative treatments, the caseload is expected to spike. “You miss that seasonal window, and the parasite spreads faster,” warned Nathaniel Moller, a former PMI adviser.

In Nigeria, the health minister confirmed a domestic funding package of $200 million to mitigate the blow, but emphasized that the ultimate responsibility lies with the Nigerian government. Yet humanitarian actors like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), unaffiliated with U.S. aid, say they are overwhelmed by patient overflow from programs that have shut down. “We can’t treat everyone,” said MSF’s Nicolas Mouly.

Beyond malaria, the crisis bleeds into other sectors. Cuts to malnutrition programs create dangerous feedback loops: undernourished children are more vulnerable to malaria, and malaria worsens nutrition levels. Aid workers fear this year’s hunger season will be catastrophic, with therapeutic food stocks running low and deaths expected to rise.

Experts warn that this moment marks one of the most disruptive chapters in global aid in recent history. “We’ve never seen such a sudden and widespread rollback,” said Mouly. “Children will die. And the world may not fully grasp the cost until it’s too late.”