Two years ago, I met Mary, a little girl whose story embodies both human resilience and the power of kindness. Today, at nine years old, Mary remains a beacon of courage despite challenges that would break many. She is an orphan, having lost both parents to AIDS, and she has lived her entire life with HIV, a disease she contracted through perinatal (vertical) transmission. Compounding her struggles, she also suffers from cerebral palsy, a condition caused by complications during her birth, likely due to lack of oxygen (hypoxia), premature birth, or infections that could have been prevented with better healthcare access.

My path to meeting Mary was unexpected. During Nigeria’s 2023 election campaign, I publicly condemned then-Senator Dino Melaye for mocking Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s movement challenges. In a viral video, I pledged to help a child with mobility issues rather than mock those facing such difficulties. Quietly fulfilling this pledge, I was introduced to Mary through a relative working at an agency funded by USAID, an organization dedicated to providing life-saving support to children like her.

Mary’s intelligence, optimism, and radiant joy stood in stark contrast to the crushing difficulties she faced. To attend school, she needed a wheelchair, and I was honored to provide one. In addition, I arranged a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon to begin treatment that would improve her mobility as much as possible. Mary’s survival and education were made possible, in large part, by the generosity of the American taxpayers, whose country has long championed foreign aid as a moral and strategic imperative.

For decades, USAID (United States Agency for International Development) has been a crucial force in global health and development, operating on a budget that amounts to less than 0.5% of the U.S. federal budget. Yet, this small investment has yielded invaluable humanitarian and diplomatic benefits. USAID has been a pillar of medical intervention worldwide, playing an instrumental role in combating diseases such as:
• HIV/AIDS (through PEPFAR and other initiatives)
• Malaria (via the President’s Malaria Initiative)
• Polio (in partnership with WHO and UNICEF)
• Tuberculosis and maternal health crises in vulnerable populations

In medical school, we were taught about USAID as one of the foremost global development partners, a model of humanitarian excellence. I personally developed admiration for the United States not just for its role in defeating fascism in World War II, but also for its magnanimity in rebuilding Europe through the Marshall Plan. This investment in global stability propelled 80 years of relative peace and prosperity.

Yet, as the world approaches the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a fascist ideology has re-emerged—not in some distant dictatorship, but within the very heart of the United States government. Elon Musk and Donald Trump, with their reckless and self-serving policies, have begun dismantling USAID, turning their backs on the very ideals that once made America a global leader in humanitarian efforts.

Elon Musk’s Dangerous Fascist Undertones

Elon Musk—who once fled apartheid South Africa, supposedly to avoid participation in its oppressive youth service—has refused to return since Black South Africans gained power. He is the son of a man who belonged to the anti-apartheid Progressive Party, yet that same father also opposed land redistribution, despite 7% of the white population controlling over 70% of South Africa’s land and wealth.

Musk’s public Roman salute, an unmistakable nod to Adolf Hitler’s ideology, and his creation of the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) serve as a chilling reminder of past authoritarian regimes. Now, under Trump’s influence, Musk has embarked on a crusade to gut the fabric of American identity, dismantling the very institutions that have kept global stability in check.

The Destruction of USAID: A Death Sentence for Millions

Because of Trump and Musk’s disdain for global aid, millions of vulnerable children like Mary have now lost access to HIV medication and essential education support. This isn’t just a reduction in funding—it is a complete withdrawal of life-saving intervention. Existing medications that were already stocked in clinics were even ordered to be returned to warehouses, leaving countless patients stranded without treatment.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2025/02/11/betrayal-of-compassion-elon-musk-donald-trumps-war-on-worlds-most-vulnerable/?amp