US Aid Cuts: Invisible Deaths Rise in Nepal

US funding cuts have led to a sharp increase in maternal and child deaths in Nepal, as essential health and nutrition programs were abruptly halted. Kabita Mukhiya's death from pregnancy complications, after these vital services ceased, highlights the tragic human cost.

Health officials are bracing for a global rise in child mortality for the first time this century, a direct consequence of reduced foreign aid. The decision to cut funding has decimated nutrition programs, leaving millions of pregnant women and children vulnerable.

Aid organizations report a drastic reduction in services, with maternal and neonatal care suffering significantly. The U.S. government maintains its aid is efficient, but evidence suggests otherwise, with studies predicting millions of preventable deaths.

In Nepal's rural areas, the impact is stark: prenatal visits and community health worker support have plummeted, leading to increased pregnancy complications and fatalities. The decline in data collection means many of these deaths remain officially uncounted, hidden within impoverished communities.