Global Health

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

In the past 10 years, USAID has helped save the lives of more than 5 million children and 200,000 women. Our efforts focus on 25 priority countries, that together account for more than two-thirds of maternal and child deaths worldwide. Despite this progress, more than 15,000 children and 830 women still die every day from causes we could have prevented. Mothers and children are invaluable to their families, communities, societies, and economies, and the loss of even one life robs these families and communities of their potential.

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.

Related Resources

Infographic: When Women Thrive, so do Their Families [PDF, 2.1MB]

Infographic: Partnering to Invest in Healthy, Strong and Resilient Communities [2.4MB]

Map of American Institutions Partnering with USAID to Advance Global Health

Combating Infectious Diseases Fact Sheet [PDF, 3.3MB]

2018 Acting on the Call Report

50 Years of Global Health

Global Health E-newsletters and Highlights

Users Guide to USAID/Washington Health Programs