U.S. Agency for International Development

Global Health

Primary health care is the first step to building strong families, stable communities and productive nations. Learn how USAID and its partners have worked to advance primary health care and community health systems around the world.

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Read how health-related research and development saves lives, spurs innovation and solidifies success.

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The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History launches Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World, an exhibit on epidemic disease threats worldwide. Learn about USAID's response to disease outbreaks and what we are doing to prevent, mitigate and respond.

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The 2018 Acting on the Call report details how USAID partners with countries on their journey to self-reliance by helping countries plan, fund and manage their own continued progress.

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David Ouma Principal Dispenser in Moroto Hospital Store

Improving Malaria Treatment and Saving Lives in Uganda

Charlisena Lubin in her wheelchair next to her mother

Following Injury, a Student Illuminates Darkness in Post-Hurricane Haiti

Dr. Sophia Laine and a patient smiling during therapy

One Doctor’s Mission to Empower Haitians With Mobility Disabilities

After 55 years of working in global health, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is proud of the progress made with many partners across the globe—improving health and saving lives in record numbers. USAID works with global partners in a number of cross-cutting issues that have a direct impact on health outcomes.

Strategic Priorities

USAID's global health programs have three strategic priorities that build on our success and focus our work, while building sustainable and resilient health systems in the poorest regions of the world.

Preventing Child and Maternal Deaths

Since 2008, USAID's efforts have helped save the lives of 4.6 million children and 200,000 women. Globally, child mortality has been cut in half since 1990: 18,000 more children will survive today than did on any day in 1990 – and 650 more mothers. Despite this, 5.9 million children and 303,000 women die every year, primarily from causes we know how to prevent.

Through efforts in family planning, maternal and child health, malaria, and nutrition, USAID is working to prevent child and maternal deaths. USAID's maternal and child survival programs are concentrated in 25 focus countries with the highest need, demonstrable commitment, and the potential to leverage resources from the public and private sectors to improve health outcomes. Together, these countries possess large gaps in women’s healthcare needs and account for more than two-thirds of maternal and child deaths worldwide.

Controlling the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

Since 1986, USAID's HIV/AIDS program has been on the forefront of the global AIDS crisis. As a key implementer of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), USAID provides global leadership; supports country-led efforts; and applies science, technology and innovation to support the implementation of cost-effective, sustainable and appropriately integrated HIV/AIDS interventions at scale to achieve HIV/AIDS epidemic control. Through PEPFAR, more than 13.3 million people are on life-saving antiretroviral treatment; 85.5 million people receive HIV testing and counseling, including more than 11.2 million pregnant women; 6.4 million orphans and vulnerable children receive care and support; and more than 250,000 healthcare workers have been trained to deliver HIV and other health services.

Combating Infectious Diseases

While scores of infectious diseases continue to threaten humankind, USAID-led efforts through the Emerging Pandemic Threats program are strengthening health systems around the world by building better capacity to detect outbreaks, mitigate transmission, and prevent epidemics. Though still a critical issue, the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) has declined by nearly 50 percent since 1990, and in 2015 alone, USAID successfully treated nearly 3 million people for TB and started more than 70,000 on multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) regimens. Over the past 10 years, USAID has delivered over 1.6 billion treatments to about 750 million people affected by neglected tropical diseases, a group of parasitic and bacterial infections that cause profound suffering.

Working with Global Partners

Investments in global health protect Americans at home and abroad, strengthen fragile or failing states, and promote social and economic progress. USAID encourages sustainable systems within countries and regional mentorship between countries, working collaboratively through partnerships to solve global problems.