Pulse Check: The New U.S-Africa Health Deals

Is the new wave of U.S-Africa bilateral health deals a game-changer for African health sovereignty or a step backward for solidarity?  With more than a dozen African countries signing nearly $20 billion in bilateral deals by early 2026, the Trump administration’s America First Global Health Strategy is reshaping the future of foreign assistance and global health. In this episode, Doris Macharia, president of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), and Steve Morrison, senior vice president of the CSIS Global Health Policy Center, join Oge to take stock of this pivotal moment. They examine what the America First health strategy gets right, what it has overlooked, and how its rapid rollout is playing out on the continent. As the strategy moves to the implementation phase, it is being met with a mix of skepticism, anxiety, and cautious hope.