UK aid cuts threaten global child health: a call to rethink international assistance
Recent reductions in UK aid have demonstrably harmed child health in low-income and middle-income countries. Increased child morbidity and mortality are directly linked to funding cuts impacting vaccination programmes, maternal and child health services and nutritional interventions, exacerbating the health crisis. This article analyses these impacts, criticises systemic flaws in the aid architecture, particularly the impact of the abolition of Department for International Development and advocates for a decolonised, localised and accountable aid system prioritising child health.
Authors
- Christian Harkensee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6910-0371)
- Kerry Blackett
- Susanna Corona Maioli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9208-3792)
- Alexandra Cardoso Pinto
- Erva Nur Cinar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4831-1631)
- Jolem Mwanje (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7711-006X)
- Prudence Jarrett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8842-358X)
- Helen Brotherton
- Maria Marcolin
Institutions
- University of Leeds (GB)
- University of the Gambia (GM)
- The George Institute for Global Health (GB)
- University of Juba (SS)
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Barts Health NHS Trust (GB)
- London International Development Centre (GB)
- Calderdale Royal Hospital (GB)
- Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary (GB)
- NHS Fife (GB)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- MRC Unit the Gambia (GM)
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- University College London (GB)
- Imperial College London (GB)
- Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMJ Paediatrics Open
- Published
- 2025-05-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2025-003602
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Global Security and Public Health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.20