US to cut $50 million health aid to Zambia because of medicine theft

The United States said on Thursday that it will cut $50 million in annual aid to Zambia because of what it described as the “systemic theft” of donated drugs and medical supplies.

Washington’s ambassador to the country, Michael Gonzales, said the “difficult” decision comes after repeated warnings to the government to safeguard the vital medicines.

These included life-saving drugs to treat malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis.

…