U.S. Aid Cuts Put Mothers, Babies at Risk as Vital Health Services Collapse in Nepal
In some areas of Nepal, the impact of foreign aid cuts on maternal and child health services is a concern for the safety and survival of babies and pregnant women who rely on nutrition, prenatal care and community health programmes.
The pullout of U.S.-backed assistance has impacted services for poor and disenfranchised families, such as outreach efforts that alert pregnant women to complications and encourage them to get medical attention, an Associated Press investigation reveals.
The effect is seen in the case of Kabita Mukhiya, a 28-week pregnant woman from rural Nepal, who died. The AP reports that Mukhiya was not able to leave her home for weeks due to complications as aid workers who used to visit her community stopped doing so. She eventually made it to hospital where her baby was declared dead. Mukhiya later died.
The disruption raises the issue of how gaps in maternal care can turn into child safeguarding issues before the baby is born. Limited access to prenatal care, nutrition and emergency services can raise the risk of unborn babies and newborns, especially in communities already plagued by poverty and low levels of education.
Aid cuts have also affected nutrition programmes and some health facilities are lacking in equipment, medicines and staff, the AP reported. The World Health Organization has stated that the cuts have led to many women’s organisations having to cut back on services.
The broader issue is not just about individual families. Child mortality gains could be lost if foreign aid is cut, and the Gates Foundation is forecasting that 2025 will be the first year in this century where child deaths will rise, warn global health experts.
The situation highlights the need for child protection systems to continue to provide the necessary services to support families in keeping children safe from preventable harm, especially in the prenatal period and early childhood.
