The United States has announced it will stop funding health programs in Zimbabwe by the end of September. This decision comes after negotiations on a proposed U.S.-Zimbabwe health agreement collapsed, with Zimbabwe rejecting a requirement to share sensitive health data. The U.S. Embassy in Harare confirmed the move, and Ambassador Pamela Tremont stated that the U.S. will now focus its relationship with Zimbabwe on economic, trade, and investment opportunities rather than health and humanitarian aid. Zimbabwe has long relied on U.S. health aid, which supported programs to combat HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, as well as clinical care, laboratory systems, and medical supplies. The U.S. has been the country’s largest health donor for decades. The withdrawal of this support raises concerns about the impact on public health, especially as Zimbabwe already faces shortages of basic medical supplies and medications. Patients often have to bring their own bandages or buy their own medicines due to these shortages. Zimbabwean officials have expressed concern over the decline in international aid and said they would try to raise funds domestically. However, some health advocates question whether the government can afford to replace the lost funding. Asia Russell, executive director of Health GAP, warned that the decision could lead to a public health crisis, citing disruptions to critical health programs caused by the U.S. decision to halt funding. The dispute began in February when talks on a bilateral health agreement, proposed under the Trump administration’s "America First" foreign aid policy, collapsed. Zimbabwe rejected the deal, citing concerns over data sharing, sovereignty, and the U.S. moving away from global health institutions. The agreement reportedly required access to sensitive health data, including virus samples and epidemiological information from Zimbabwe’s citizens. Namibia also rejected a similar U.S. proposal over data-sharing concerns and has seen a reduction in U.S. financial support for its HIV response programs. Across Africa, there has been a growing push for "health sovereignty," with governments seeking to manage their health systems with less reliance on foreign aid. The Africa CDC has warned of a severe funding crisis, noting that official development assistance to the continent has dropped significantly in recent years. The U.S. has been negotiating new country-specific health agreements to reduce donor dependency and encourage domestic financing. While 35 countries, mostly in Africa, have signed such agreements, several, including Zimbabwe, have resisted or failed to complete them. Kenya’s agreement is currently under legal review.