The decision affects around 90 countries that rely on comprehensive health data for development goals.
**Trump Administration Discontinues Vital Global Health Research Program**
**Trump Administration Discontinues Vital Global Health Research Program**
The abrupt termination of the Demographic and Health Surveys program raises concerns for maternal and child health data worldwide.
In a move that experts deem detrimental to global health monitoring, the Trump administration has decided to dismantle the Demographic and Health Surveys (D.H.S.), a critical program funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.). Giving access to crucial health information, this program has been vital to approximately half of the world’s nations, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where health infrastructure is often deficient.
The D.H.S. provided comprehensive data on key health indicators such as maternal and child mortality, nutrition, reproductive health, and incidences of H.I.V., data that were indispensable for setting health benchmarks and achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In a recent email, program administrators were informed of the program's immediate termination, citing “convenience for the U.S. Government” as the reason. They were instructed to cease all operations, terminate subcontracts, and halt future orders.
Experts in global health have expressed their alarm at this development. Win Brown, a demographer from the University of Washington, emphasized the importance of the D.H.S. data in implementing effective public health policies and tracking health progress. He noted, “Without such data, measuring the impact of foreign aid cuts on vulnerable populations will be nearly impossible.”
The suspension of the program comes amid broader cuts to U.S.A.I.D. and anticipates significant layoffs amongst the agency's personnel. Concerns loom about the future of public health evaluations in numerous countries that depend on the D.H.S. for accurate and timely information on health metrics. As the world grapples with ongoing health crises, the elimination of this critical resource may have far-reaching implications for both current conditions and future developments in global health initiatives.
