Welcome to Global Health Watch, a resource from the Center for Global Health Equity at Dartmouth. As global health policy and funding face significant shifts—including changes to USAID, PEPFAR, WHO engagement, and key public health agencies—this site provides updates and links to key information. Our goal is to help our Dartmouth community stay informed about evolving challenges and their potential impact on global health programs and research.
Key:
^ Author from Dartmouth
# Essential reading
* Newly added or updated this week
Critical Global Health Updates
- Dismantling of USAID– Structural changes, program eliminations, staff reductions, and the broader impact on global development and health initiatives.
The Brookings Institute’s: What every American should know about US foreign aid
Trump administration says it's cutting 90% of USAID foreign aid contracts
USAID Stop-Work: Looking for a way to help?
USAID Stop-Work: Tracking. Informing.
- U.S. Withdrawal from WHO– Consequences for global health coordination, disease surveillance, and emergency response.
The Dire Consequences of Trump Withdrawing America From the WHO
President Trump orders US withdrawal from WHO
The U.S. and the WHO: An Imperfect but Essential Relationship
^U.S. exit from WHO: Potential impacts for smallpox virus biosafety
#The U.S. Government and the World Health Organization
- PEPFAR Reauthorization and Funding– The future of a lifesaving global HIV/AIDS program amid political and budgetary challenges.
Early impacts of the PEPFAR stop-work order: a rapid assessment
#KFF: The Outlook for PEPFAR in 2025 and Beyond
#UNAIDS: Impact of US funding freeze on the global AIDS response — Weekly update
What Effect are HIV Programmes Having in Africa? A quick guide
- Changes at CDC and NIH– Workforce reductions, funding cuts, and shifts in research and public health priorities.
CDC ordered to stop working with WHO immediately, upending expectations of an extended withdrawal
CDC webpages go dark as Trump targets public health information
‘Devastating’ cuts to NIH grants by Trump’s team put on hold by US judge
Health agencies lose staff members in key areas as Trump firings set in
Trump officials exerting unprecedented control over CDC scientific journal
Trump administration restricts CDC research and messaging with layers of oversight
- Threats to Global Health Research and Innovation– Declining investment in scientific research, global partnerships, and pandemic preparedness.
2025 United States government online resource removals
This New Drug Could Help End the HIV Epidemic—but US Funding Cuts Are Killing Its Rollout
Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates
- Cross-Cutting and Emerging Issues– Additional policy changes, funding trends, and geopolitical shifts shaping the global health landscape.
Damage Worsens from US Foreign Assistance Cuts A "Defining Moment" for Global Health Funding
‘It is chaos’: US funding freezes are endangering global health
#Overview of President Trump’s Executive Actions on Global Health
Global and Domestic Responses
As the U.S. government shifts its role in global health, stakeholders are mobilizing to fill gaps, advocate for funding, and challenge policy changes. Governments, NGOs, and academic institutions are exploring alternative funding, legal challenges, and new partnerships to sustain critical programs. This section tracks key responses from global health leaders.
26 Countries Are Most Vulnerable to US Global Health Aid Cuts. Can Other Funders Bridge the Gap?
Emergency fundraisers offer a lifeline to groups who've lost foreign aid
#Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions
MacArthur Foundation to increase giving for two years in response to ‘crisis’
Saudi Arabia confirms $500 million commitment to polio eradication effort, WHO says
The WHO's Funding Gap: Filling the Medical Diplomacy Void
Other Updates
September 3, 2024 (Tuesday) Daniel Lucey MD, MPH
Initial postings requested for: (A) mpox and (B) polio vaccination on webpage for outbreaks and pan-epidemics on CGHE website (per Dr. Lisa Adams, Craig Westling, Roland Lamb, Dan Lucey).
Mpox:
---WHO Science in 5 minutes: “mpox updates” by Dr. Abdou Salam Gueye, WHO AFRO Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. September 2, 2024.
---Africa CDC: Fact sheet and epidemiology of mpox 2024
---World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros declares mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) August 14, 2024.
---US CDC: mpox resources links
---One Geisel MPH/MS/MD student webinar August 21 by Daniel Lucey MD MPH
Watch Zoom Recording-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Polio Vaccination in Gaza:
---WHO media videos Day 1 (Sept. 1), Day 2 (Sept. 2), each day of vaccinations:
Watch Video---WHO Video from Gaza (Sept. 1, 2024 posted by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros on X): Duration 2 minutes.
Watch Video