My newsletter this week is a little different. While I tend to focus broadly on the impact of U.S. funding cuts on HIV programs, I zeroed in this week on on one woman, Mercy Mdoka. Her story is a window into the disruption and suffering these cuts have caused: theforsaken.substack.com/p/mercy-mdoka

My newsletter this week is a little different. While I tend to focus broadly on the impact of U.S. funding cuts on HIV programs, I zeroed in this week on on one woman, Mercy Mdoka. Her story is a window into the disruption and suffering these cuts have caused: theforsaken.substack.com/p/mercy-mdoka

U.S. officials confirmed yesterday the termination of support for Botswana's voluntary medical male circumcision program. Circumcision can reduce HIV transmission by up to 60%. But PEPFAR will drop its support amid sweeping cuts to prevention services in Botswana and across the continent.

Countries can no longer rely on US supply chains for the provision of essential medicines. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/eco...

Botswana had been at the forefront of the global AIDS response for decades, but recent economic troubles led to shortages of lifesaving treatment. This collided with U.S. cuts in support to Botswana's HIV programs. Suddenly the country is facing a crisis: theforsaken.substack.com/p/a-differen...

The U.S. has kicked off bilateral negotiations to set up multi-year MOUs that will determine America's global health and security support. The process is already incredibly problematic, as @emilybass.bsky.social spells out: emilysbass.substack.com/p/usa-global...

Botswana had been at the forefront of the global AIDS response for decades, but recent economic troubles led to shortages of lifesaving treatment. This collided with U.S. cuts in support to Botswana's HIV programs. Suddenly the country is facing a crisis: theforsaken.substack.com/p/a-differen...

Experts are raising concern around a template for bilateral agreements between the U.S. and partner governments that includes pathogen sharing and agreements on automatic approval for American products.

Trading PABS for PEPFAR: "EXCLUSIVE: US Ties Global Health Aid to Data Sharing on Pathogens – Undermining WHO Talks" healthpolicy-watch.news/exclusive-us...

Botswana's health sector was already reeling as the country's economy unravels. Then the Trump administration cut crucial support to its HIV programs: theforsaken.substack.com/p/a-differen...

Botswana's health sector was already reeling as the country's economy unravels. Then the Trump administration cut crucial support to its HIV programs: theforsaken.substack.com/p/a-differen...

The new America First Global Health Strategy prioritizes support for community health workers. So why did the Trump administration just spend nine months firing so many of them: theforsaken.substack.com/p/whos-on-th...

The new America First Global Health Strategy prioritizes support for community health workers. So why did the Trump administration just spend nine months firing so many of them: theforsaken.substack.com/p/whos-on-th...

💔 Over 460 patients & companions were murdered in El Fasher’s Saudi Maternity Hospital after an #RSF takeover. @who.int DG @drtedros.who.int: “Appalled & deeply shocked.” ❗Healthcare must never be a target. ✍️ @kerrycullinan.bsky.social @unicef.org @icrc.org

The Trump administration's new health strategy maintains a commitment to global AIDS targets, but experts warn it will undercut the program needed to achieve them.

"Kenyan politics remains plural in form but authoritarian in soul." A truly brilliant analysis of Raila Odinga's political legacy by @newhumanitarian.bsky.social's Patrick Gathara: www.thenewhumanitarian.org/opinion/2025...

It looks like we are witnessing unprecedented levels of #inhumanity and lack of #compassion, as if #migrants were not #human: " #Eswatini, hunger strike of #Cuban man deported from #USA exposes human cost of unlawful transfer arrangement". Read here: share.google/zAOn5ZDDysPC...

For @genevahealthfiles.bsky.social, I had the opportunity to summarize six months of reporting on the threats to the global HIV response through the lens of the situation in three different countries: genevahealthfiles.substack.com/p/the-story-...

The Story of the Unfolding HIV Crises As Seen in Three Countries: Uganda, Thailand and Malawi A Ground Report by Andrew Green genevahealthfiles.substack.com/p/the-story-...

For @genevahealthfiles.bsky.social, I synthesize six months of reporting on the impact of the U.S. funding cuts to the global AIDS response: genevahealthfiles.substack.com/p/the-story-...

Neat summary, this Devex report on the World Health Summit: www.devex.com/news/special...

Check out this week's IHP news 850: The World Health Summit www.internationalhealthpolicies.org/newsletter/ pdf: www.internationalhealthpolicies.org/wp-content/u... (also with pdf translations in French, Spanish & Portuguese, as well as an AI summary)

Sovereignty was central in discussions of the future global health response at this year's World Health Summit. But where will that leave vulnerable communities? theforsaken.substack.com/p/the-view-f...

At this week's World Health Summit in Berlin, the global south arrived with a welcome vision for the future of the global health response, but it is not without some potential complications: theforsaken.substack.com/p/the-view-f...

At this week's World Health Summit in Berlin, the global south arrived with a welcome vision for the future of the global health response, but it is not without some potential complications: theforsaken.substack.com/p/the-view-f...

Thousands of attendees gathered in Berlin to think about the future of the global health response amid reduced aid and declining multilateralism. Plus other takeaways from the World Health Summit.

On the occasion of Raila Odinga's death, I'm reminded of the time I interviewed him at his Nairobi house. It was filled with gifts from officials and well wishers, including a quite tattered lion-skin rug...

How do you fight the far right (in #globalhealth)? @profsophieharman.bsky.social 1) Don’t punch down (tell the public their concerns are stupid) 2) Don’t self-censor 😶 3) Get our own house in order (don’t exploit women’s stories, unpaid health and care work, and ignore harassment)

Germany commits €1B to Global Fund as aid cuts shape World Health Summit www.devex.com/news/germany... Love it: "Evangelizing for AI" :)

Fridays firings www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/h...

I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.

Madagascar faced a polio outbreak that left dozens paralyzed. In response, the government and its partners launched 7 sweeping vaccination campaigns. I traveled across the country to hear the stories of those who've worked to keep polio at bay. devex.shorthandstories.com/madagascars-...

📢 As the World Health Summit begins, one question is front and center: how should global health architecture adapt? With SDG deadlines looming and funding cuts deepening, reform is no longer optional. 🧵 bit.ly/GHarchitecture

Malawi was dependent on U.S. support for HIV services. When Trump cut those funds, the Malawian government scrambled to fill the gaps. But it cannot replace everything that was lost. A reduced HIV response is now coming into focus: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... Me for @thelancet.com

Why are health workers across sub-Saharan Africa skeptical about the push to end standalone HIV services? theforsaken.substack.com/p/rush-job

Could taxes fix the global health funding crisis? With traditional donors cutting foreign aid, taxes are seen as a way developing countries could raise revenue to tackle global health threats. However, as @theandrewgreen.bsky.social highlights, questions remain over its implementation. #health

I think the Trump admin assumed no one would try to find out who the people on the boats they blew up really were

The Trump admin intends to exclude NGOs from its global health work moving forward. To emphasize that, officials kicked the Global Health Council out of an event at an UNGA side event last week: www.devex.com/news/trump-s... via @alterigoe.bsky.social

The Trump administration has a new, America-first global health policy that celebrates U.S. accomplishments in battling HIV, while excluding the NGOs that made those achievements possible: theforsaken.substack.com/p/a-new-vision

AstraZeneca’s chief executive, Pascal Soriot, told reporters in July that he agreed with the president about leveling drug prices between the U.S. and its peers. Research and development costs, he said, “should be shared more fairly across rich countries.”

The Trump administration has a new, America-first global health policy that celebrates U.S. accomplishments in battling HIV, while excluding the NGOs that made those achievements possible: theforsaken.substack.com/p/a-new-vision

Trade not aid. But also not trade www.ft.com/content/8e9c...

In its new global health policy, the Trump administration crows about decades of U.S. investments that have saved 26 million lives. At the same time, though, the strategy condemns the organizations America has partnered with to actually save those lives: theforsaken.substack.com/p/a-new-vision

Trump's new global health policy appears eager to cut funding to the NGOs that actually reach communities with HIV services, where government clinics are unable: theforsaken.substack.com/p/a-new-vision

In its new global health policy, the Trump administration crows about decades of U.S. investments that have saved 26 million lives. At the same time, though, the strategy condemns the organizations America has partnered with to actually save those lives: theforsaken.substack.com/p/a-new-vision

It's important to read this entire thread...

“Lenacapavir holds the potential to defeat the HIV pandemic, if delivered urgently, at scale; any restrictions on access to an affordable generic price for this essential prevention tool is unacceptable.” – @asia-ilse.bsky.social, Health GAP.

A breakthrough HIV prevention injection could be available for as little as $40 per person per year thanks to two new partnerships with Indian generic manufacturers: www.devex.com/news/new-par...