Health Check
Ninety percent of USAID programs cut
Mar 5, 2025
Dorcas Wangira, a BBC Africa health correspondent, and Brooke Nicholl, a Senior research fellow at the University of Sydney, delve into urgent global health issues amidst significant USAID funding cuts. They discuss the grim implications for AIDS and polio programs in Africa, as well as the pressing need for sustainable health strategies. The duo also tackles the challenges of MPox in the Democratic Republic of Congo and highlights an innovative initiative empowering women's mental health in Guatemala through supportive community circles.
26:26
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Quick takeaways
- The drastic reduction in USAID funding is projected to severely impact health systems in Africa, leading to increased disease mortality and prevalence.
- In Guatemala, women are forming 'Circles of Hope' to collaboratively tackle mental health challenges, fostering community support and resilience amidst adversity.
Deep dives
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Influencers on social media frequently promote various medical tests that lack evidence of benefit for healthy individuals. Research highlights that many of these tests can lead to overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatments, causing more harm than good. A study found that while 87% of social media posts emphasized the benefits of tests, only 15% acknowledged potential harms. This presents a skewed perception of medical testing, underscoring the need for consumers to be cautious and critically evaluate the information presented.
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