US Plans to Condition Global Health Funding on African Countries Sharing Abortion Data with the US
In a move that has sparked widespread concern, the Trump administration is reportedly planning to make it a condition of global health funding for African countries to share significant amounts of health data with the United States, including information about abortion practices.
The plan is part of the Trump administration's new "America First Global Health Strategy," which seeks to reduce US involvement in multilateral cooperation on international health initiatives. Instead, the strategy aims to negotiate bilateral agreements between the US and individual countries, primarily in Africa.
Under this new approach, countries that receive global health assistance from the US would be required to share a broad range of health care and pathogen data with the US for the next 25 years. This includes information on abortion practices, which could potentially allow the US to monitor compliance with the Helms Amendment, a federal law that prohibits US funds from being used to provide abortion services abroad.
Critics argue that this plan is part of the Trump administration's broader anti-abortion agenda and would give the US broad authority to collect data on abortion policies in countries for decades to come. Global health experts have expressed concerns about the unbalanced nature of these agreements, which could lead to misuse of sensitive information.
"This is just another example of the Trump Administration's playbook for using its power and influence to further its anti-choice agenda," said Melissa Cockroft, global lead on abortion for the International Planned Parenthood Federation. "The request for 'any data' needed to monitor compliance with the Helms Amendment goes far beyond what is necessary and raises significant concerns about what the administration is doing with this information."
As part of this strategy, the Trump administration has already reinstated the global gag rule, a policy that prevents foreign organizations from providing information, referrals, or services related to abortion care. The administration is also expanding this rule to encompass all non-military foreign assistance and U.S.-based nonprofits.
Many countries in Africa are feeling squeezed for funding and may take the US deal without negotiating further concessions. However, critics warn that this approach could have serious consequences for global health efforts and undermine the trust between governments and international organizations.
The Intercept has obtained a template agreement that outlines these conditions, which has sparked widespread concern among global health experts and human rights advocates.
In a move that has sparked widespread concern, the Trump administration is reportedly planning to make it a condition of global health funding for African countries to share significant amounts of health data with the United States, including information about abortion practices.
The plan is part of the Trump administration's new "America First Global Health Strategy," which seeks to reduce US involvement in multilateral cooperation on international health initiatives. Instead, the strategy aims to negotiate bilateral agreements between the US and individual countries, primarily in Africa.
Under this new approach, countries that receive global health assistance from the US would be required to share a broad range of health care and pathogen data with the US for the next 25 years. This includes information on abortion practices, which could potentially allow the US to monitor compliance with the Helms Amendment, a federal law that prohibits US funds from being used to provide abortion services abroad.
Critics argue that this plan is part of the Trump administration's broader anti-abortion agenda and would give the US broad authority to collect data on abortion policies in countries for decades to come. Global health experts have expressed concerns about the unbalanced nature of these agreements, which could lead to misuse of sensitive information.
"This is just another example of the Trump Administration's playbook for using its power and influence to further its anti-choice agenda," said Melissa Cockroft, global lead on abortion for the International Planned Parenthood Federation. "The request for 'any data' needed to monitor compliance with the Helms Amendment goes far beyond what is necessary and raises significant concerns about what the administration is doing with this information."
As part of this strategy, the Trump administration has already reinstated the global gag rule, a policy that prevents foreign organizations from providing information, referrals, or services related to abortion care. The administration is also expanding this rule to encompass all non-military foreign assistance and U.S.-based nonprofits.
Many countries in Africa are feeling squeezed for funding and may take the US deal without negotiating further concessions. However, critics warn that this approach could have serious consequences for global health efforts and undermine the trust between governments and international organizations.
The Intercept has obtained a template agreement that outlines these conditions, which has sparked widespread concern among global health experts and human rights advocates.
...its kinda shady how dey wanna require african countries 2 share all dese health data w/ us, incl info on abortion practices 
i mean, whats next? gonna ask for our dna or smthn? 
anywayz, its def concerning cuz global health experts r sayin this could lead 2 misuse of sensitive info & undermine trust between govts & intl orgs 
also, cant we jus focus on healin ppl rather than politicizin it? 
. and now they want us to share our data with them for 25 years? that's just mind-bogglingly creepy. global health funding should be about helping people, not spying on their personal choices 
. this whole thing is a huge red flag for me. what's next? are they gonna start monitoring our Netflix binges too? 
I mean, isn't that something governments should be respecting instead of trying to dictate? 
And on top of that, this is just another example of how US foreign policy can have really negative consequences for countries in the Global South. 
It's like they're not considering the bigger picture and just trying to push their own agenda. 
. They're basically saying "we need your data to help you" but it's just a sneaky way for them to get control over what's happening in countries across Africa. It's not like they're offering any real support, just trying to stick their nose into every medical decision made there. And what about the health consequences of sharing sensitive info? This could lead to serious problems if it falls into the wrong hands 
. The fact that this is part of an "America First" strategy just makes it even more shady. I hope other countries can see through this and don't fall for it 
.
The US is basically trying to control Africa's healthcare decisions with their 'America First Global Health Strategy'... like, what even is that?! 
. I mean, who needs that much info on reproductive health?! 
. And don't even get me started on how this will affect global health efforts... it's gonna be a disaster 