US commits $480m in health funding to Ivory Coast, the latest to sign ‘America First’ health deals
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — United States and Ivory Coast On Tuesday, it signed a health deal requiring the United States to allocate $480 million to the West African country’s health sector as part of “America First” global health financing agreements that reflect the Trump administration’s foreign policy.
The signing in Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast, covers areas such as HIV, malaria, maternal and child health and global health security. This final agreement The US entered with more than a dozen things African countriesmany affected by US aid cuts, Including Ivory Coast.
US aid is being cut crippled health systems in the developing world, including africaMany countries relied on funding for important programs, including those responding to disease outbreaks.
According to Ivory Coast Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé, the new health agreement is based on the principle of shared responsibility, with Ivory Coast committing to provide 163 billion CFA francs ($292 million) by 2030, representing 60% of the total commitment.
U.S. Ambassador to Ivory Coast Jessica Davis Ba said the U.S. government is moving “beyond the traditional aid approach toward a model focused on trade, innovation and shared prosperity.”
The Ambassador said, “Today, our bilateral cooperation is entering a new phase. We are implementing the America First global health strategy.”
The Trump administration says its new “America First” global health financing agreements aim to increase self-sufficiency and eliminate waste caused by ideology and international aid. The agreements replace previous health agreements under the now disbanded United States Agency for International Development.
USAID had invested $115 million in Ivory Coast to support sectors such as health, education and assistance to refugees, mostly fleeing violence in neighboring Sahel states.
Analysts say US President Donald Trump’s new approach to global health dealing transactionally with other nationsHe uses direct talks with foreign governments to promote his agenda abroad.
