AP Reports Life-Threatening Impacts of US Government Funding Cuts
In a recent Associated Press article, journalist Taiwo Adebayo highlights the deadly consequences of the United States government funding cuts for children facing malnutrition: Children die as USAID aid cuts snap a lifeline for the world’s most malnourished.
The cuts have disrupted life-saving nutrition support for millions of children and could result in tens of thousands of preventable deaths. Reporting from Nigeria, Adebayo tells the heartbreaking story of a mother who lost her infant after his malnutrition treatment was abruptly halted due to the funding cuts.
Shawn Baker, Chief Program Officer at Helen Keller Intl, underscored the global consequences of these cuts in the article:
“Globally, 50% of the therapeutic foods for treating malnutrition in children were funded by USAID, and 40% of the supplies were produced in the U.S., according to Shawn Baker, chief program officer at Helen Keller Intl and former chief nutritionist at USAID.
He said the consequence could be 1 million children not receiving treatment for severe malnutrition, resulting in 163,500 additional deaths per year. For Helen Keller Intl, its programs in Bangladesh, Nepal and Nigeria have been terminated.”
Helen Keller’s terminated nutrition programs served more than 21 million people – including over 11 million children – who are now at immediate risk of stunting, cognitive delays, and death without urgent intervention.
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