Trump’s USAID shutdown a wake-up call for Africa – Africa CDC Director General
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr. Jean Kaseya, has described the closure of USAID operations under former U.S. President Donald Trump as a critical wake-up call for African nations to prioritize self-reliance in public health financing and infrastructure.
Speaking at a public health forum, Dr. Kaseya stated that the move—which saw USAID scale back or halt programs in several African countries—exposed the continent’s heavy dependence on external donors for essential healthcare services. He warned that this level of reliance poses long-term risks to the sustainability and sovereignty of Africa’s health systems.
“President Trump’s decision to shut down USAID support in parts of Africa should not just provoke frustration; it should awaken us,” he stressed. “Africa must build resilient public health institutions that do not crumble when foreign aid is withdrawn.”
Dr. Kaseya noted that while donor assistance has historically played an important role in combating diseases and improving healthcare outcomes across the continent, African governments must now take full responsibility for funding, training, and innovation within their own health sectors.
He urged increased national investment in health, calling on African leaders to allocate more resources toward primary care, local vaccine development, and regional collaboration in disease prevention and control.
“The future of Africa’s health must be in African hands,” he added. “We need to train our own experts, finance our own research, and ensure that public health is a budgetary priority, not a donor-dependent initiative.” His remarks come at a time when global development aid is declining, and African countries continue to face mounting health challenges—from infectious diseases to emerging pandemics. Many experts say the continent’s ability to withstand future shocks will depend largely on how swiftly and effectively it transitions from aid reliance to self-sustaining systems.
