When Dr. Ouma Oluga of Kenya’s Ministry of Health announced in June that her country had finalized plans for its $1.6 million U.S. health agreement, it marked more than bureaucratic progress—it signaled a renewed era of global health partnership rooted in mutual accountability and shared goals. This milestone is part of a broader shift under the America First Global Health Strategy, which has already led to 32 bilateral health agreements with countries worldwide, backed by a total investment of $20.3 billion. Of that, $12.8 billion comes from U.S. funding and $7.5 billion from partner nations, reflecting a growing commitment to co-owned health security.
These agreements aren’t just about money—they’re about building resilient systems that can stop outbreaks before they cross borders. With a new Ebola outbreak flaring in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the urgency is clear. The U.S. has responded by re-engaging with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and appointing a dedicated coordinator to lead its Ebola response, while deepening coordination with the CDC and other agencies. Transparency, data-sharing, and patient-centered care are now central to how American health diplomacy operates.
In Uganda, the first meeting of the Joint Health Steering Committee in May launched oversight of a landmark $2.3 billion, five-year agreement signed in December 2025. By July 2026, Kenya will transition to full government-to-government implementation, streamlining how aid is used and monitored. Meanwhile, a bold new initiative will deploy 30 million Guardian spatial repellents—made in the USA—through a partnership between the State Department, SC Johnson, and the Global Fund. These devices, which disrupt mosquito behavior, aim to protect over 60 million people from malaria across high-burden countries in the next three years, boosting both global health and American innovation.
Yet challenges remain. Zimbabwe rejected a $325 million health package over data sovereignty concerns, while Ghana turned down $109 million for similar reasons. In Zambia, a proposed $2 billion agreement stalled amid allegations it was tied to preferential access to critical minerals. These pushbacks underscore a vital truth: global health cooperation must be built on trust, not transactional demands.
Perhaps the most striking reminder of what’s at stake came during the 79th World Health Assembly: 348,000 women still die every year from cervical cancer—despite it being almost entirely preventable. The Go Further Partnership, launched in 2018 by the George W. Bush Institute, UNAIDS, and PEPFAR, has already delivered over 10 million cervical cancer screenings across 12 countries, integrating care into existing HIV services. Because women living with HIV are up to six times more likely to develop cervical cancer, this integration saves lives twice over.
As the U.S. redefines its role in global health, the path forward isn’t just about spending or strategy—it’s about partnership, dignity, and shared survival. When health systems strengthen abroad, Americans become safer at home.