The impact of aid cuts on women’s health should not be underestimated, as it has severe consequences for vulnerable populations worldwide. The international development committee’s report on aid funding allocation has revealed that critical healthcare services will be withdrawn from some of the most vulnerable women and girls globally.
For instance, in Afghanistan, maternal mortality rates are already nearly three times higher than the global average, according to data from the UN Population Fund. With the prospect of further support and resource reduction, this is not only shocking for the girls and women of Afghanistan but also for women worldwide.
The potential increase in unsafe abortions and preventable maternal deaths is devastating. A collaborative global approach to funding, policy, education, and healthcare provision is crucial to ensure reproductive autonomy for every girl and woman, as reproductive rights are human rights.
Prof Geeta Nargund
Co-founder, Ginsburg Women’s Health Board; senior NHS consultant
Andrew Mitchell, the development minister, should be praised for highlighting the devastating impact of aid cuts. During my tenure as the chair of the Commons international development committee, we witnessed the transformative effect of the UK’s aid spending in building resilience, capacity, and reducing poverty. Unfortunately, these achievements were undone by Boris Johnson’s decision to significantly cut the aid budget and merge the Department for International Development and the Foreign Office, resulting in disruptive consequences.
The proposed small increases in the future budget do not come close to restoring the cuts. Furthermore, these increases could be compromised by the Home Office’s excessive demands on aid funds for barges, hotels, and flights to Rwanda. Regrettably, many people have suffered or lost their lives as a result. Our reputation has been tarnished, and the wealth of expertise that once made the UK a leader in quality aid has been scattered.
Mitchell deserves support for initiating change, but it will require a change in government to fully address this issue.
Malcolm Bruce
Liberal Democrat, House of Lords
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