U.S. foreign aid cuts impact maternal health in Nepal

Reductions in foreign aid by the United States government have led to the shuttering of critical health programs, with significant impacts observed in rural Nepal. The dissolution of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Trump administration has halted essential services, including aid worker visits designed to support maternal and infant health.

Health experts and the Gates Foundation have warned of a potential global milestone: 2025 may become the first year this century where child mortality rates increase due to global cuts in foreign aid. Health officials are currently preparing for a possible surge in deaths among children under the age of five as these funding gaps persist.