Urgent: Global Health Programs at Risk – How You Can Help Save Lives

On February 26th, EngenderHealth received termination notices for three USAID awards we led — programs that have been at the forefront of saving lives and improving the health of women and children across the globe. These programs have been designed to address critical health needs in countries with some of the highest rates of maternal and newborn mortality. Now, the termination of these awards has thrown global health into crisis, halting essential care and putting lives at risk. 

This is not just a disruption. It is a loss of vital services that women, children, and newborns desperately need to survive. 

The impact of the USAID termination

The programs that have been impacted were focused on improving reproductive, maternal, and newborn health in countries such as Benin, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Guinea, India, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, and Senegal. These countries together account for tens of thousands of maternal deaths and hundreds of thousands of newborn deaths every year. Without these programs, the situation will only worsen. 

The termination of these awards means that: 

• Fistula repair surgeries that were scheduled to take place are no longer happening. 
• Healthcare provider training has ceased, meaning fewer trained professionals to provide lifesaving care. 
• Safe childbirth communications campaigns have been silenced, leaving women without critical information about safe delivery. 
• Community and faith-based outreach for maternal health has been cut off, reducing access to essential services in remote areas. 
• Access to family planning and reproductive health services is severely compromised. 
• Nutritional support for malnourished children is suspended, leaving many at risk of severe health consequences. 
• Mosquito net distribution, vital to protecting pregnant women and children from deadly diseases like malaria, has halted. 
• The delivery of medical supplies necessary for disease prevention and response has ceased, leaving health systems vulnerable. 

The consequences for women and children 

In Ethiopia alone, where U.S. funding has supported maternal health, family planning, and disease prevention, aid disruptions are putting lives at risk. Just one project supported by USAID helped approximately 30,000 women give birth safely in health facilities. Now, that life-saving work stops. 

The termination of our MOMENTUM Safe Surgery award, in particular, is devastating. This award was set to support 300 planned fistula repairs across seven countries over 90 days. It also would have supported facilities that were projected to provide 28,000 cesarean deliveries and 138,000 births. With no funding, these plans are now at risk, and lives are in jeopardy. Women, children, and newborns will die as a direct result of these cuts. 

What we’re doing to address the crisis 

Despite these setbacks, our commitment to reproductive health and rights remains stronger than ever. While these funding disruptions have had a major impact, we are not giving up on the women and girls who rely on us. Thanks to support from other donors, we are continuing to reach women and girls in their communities, providing vital care and services. 

Our ongoing work includes: 

• Providing family planning and reproductive health care to those who need it most. 
• Preventing and responding to gender-based violence to support vulnerable women and children. 
• Advancing maternal and newborn health services to ensure safer pregnancies and deliveries. 

To ensure that we can continue this work, EngenderHealth has launched the Reproductive Futures Fund. This fund will allow us to continue collaborating with local partners to deliver lifesaving care, strengthen health systems, and advocate for policies that protect the rights and well-being of women and children. 

How you can help 

This is a critical moment, and your support is more important than ever. Here are two ways you can take action: 

1. Call your senators: Urge them to protect foreign assistance and fully fund global health programs like USAID. Find your representative’s contact information here.  

2. Support the Reproductive Futures Fund: Your contribution will ensure that lifesaving care continues, even in the face of these funding disruptions. 

Together, we can ensure that women, children, and newborns continue to receive the care they need to survive and thrive.