When the Money Goes Away: Saving Lives in Uganda and Beyond

Health workers across Uganda are struggling in the wake of chaotic cuts to U.S. government aid, creating resourceful ways to prevent suffering and death. Resilience in Uganda—which has long battled malaria, mpox, TB, and HIV—offers lessons and calls to action worldwide.

“We need to share our expertise and knowledge. We’re in a global village—what happens in a small part of Africa escalates to other parts of the world,” said Ugandan Elsie Kiguli-Malwadde, president of the African Forum for Research and Education in Health [AFREhealth].

This reporting project offers a solutions journalism approach, featuring the scientists, health workers, and policymakers leading innovative responses, including: AI tools to battle malaria or assist in emergency triage; primary care doctors being trained in HIV treatment; burgeoning local production of HIV medicines; the world’s largest childhood malaria vaccine rollout; and public health emergency teams geared to zero U.S. support or guidance, among other evolving efforts.

When the Money Goes Away chronicles stories of people working in the field—their hurdles and successes—as they pursue short-term workarounds, lower-cost adaptations, creative funding efforts, and long-term policy shifts to save lives amid expanding global health crises.