Article Summary
The United States is cutting $50 million in annual aid to Zambia due to the systematic theft and sale of medical supplies and medicines paid for by U.S. aid funds. Around 2,000 pharmacies were investigated between 2021 and 2023, and nearly half were found to be selling U.S. aid-funded products. The Zambian government did not address the corruption after being informed in April 2024. The cut will affect medications for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, but the U.S. ambassador, Michael Gonzales, emphasized that this action is separate from Trump’s decision to cut U.S. foreign aid globally.
What This Means for You
- If you are a Zambian citizen relying on U.S. aid-funded medical support, this cut may affect your access to medications for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
- Healthcare providers should be prepared to address potential shortages or changes in supply for critical medications.
- International donors and organizations may also need to reevaluate their support and funding strategies for Zambia’s health sector.
- The Zambian government will face increased pressure to address corruption and ensure that medical supplies and medicines reach their intended recipients.
Original Post
LUSAKA, Zambia — The southern African country of Zambia will lose around $50 million a year in U.S. aid due to the systematic theft of medicines and medical supplies the money paid for, according to the U.S. ambassador.
U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Michael Gonzales announced the decision at a press briefing on Thursday, saying that the U.S. had discovered the theft in 2021. Medicines and supplies intended to be provided free to Zambians were being sold by pharmacies across the country. An investigation of around 2,000 pharmacies in Zambia between 2021 and 2023 found that nearly half of them were selling medicines and products paid for by U.S. aid funds.
Clarifying the situation, Gonzales explained that the Zambian government had failed to act on the issue after the U.S. informed it of the theft scandal in April 2024. Despite the lack of immediate comment from the government, the U.S. decided to cut $50 million, part of the $128 million in annual aid for Zambia’s health sector, including medications for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
Gonzales further emphasized that the decision to cut aid was separate from President Donald Trump’s directive to cut U.S. foreign aid globally. The U.S. investigation into the theft also discovered that medications and supplies for Zambia paid for by the Global Fund and other international donors were being sold in pharmacies.
The ambassador clarified that the proposed cuts would begin from January 2024 to provide the Zambian government time to plan new procurements of essential lifesaving drugs.
Key Terms
- U.S. aid to Zambia
- Medical supplies theft
- Zambian health sector
- HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria medications
- International donors
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