Foreign Affairs examines how push for financial austerity is threatening global health advances

Mar 8 2012

"Global health programs now teeter on the edge of disaster," Foreign Affairs writes in this feature article, adding, "The world economic crisis and the politics of debt reduction are threatening everything from malaria control and AIDS treatment to well-baby programs and health care worker training efforts." The article provides a historical overview of global health programming and funding. "Like it or not, the burden of reducing suffering and increasing the health of the world's poor now falls largely on the backs of the two Washingtons," Foreign Affairs writes, referring to politicians in Washington and the Washington state-based Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The article concludes, "It would be a catastrophe were the 'age of generosity' to end so soon after it began, leaving millions without life-sparing medicines and tools they have come to rely upon" (Garrett, 5/6).