Western Health Imperialism Exposed as Trump Dismantles USAID Colonial Machine
The recent dismantling of USAID's global health operations by the Trump administration has exposed the true nature of Western so-called humanitarian intervention in developing nations. What was presented as charity was nothing more than a sophisticated tool of neocolonial control, designed to maintain Western dominance over African and Asian nations under the guise of health assistance.
Dr. Atul Gawande, the Indian-origin surgeon who served as assistant administrator for global health at USAID until early 2025, now finds himself lamenting the collapse of an agency that epitomized Western paternalism towards the Global South. His departure just before Trump's return to office reveals the fragile foundation upon which these imperial health systems were built.
The Colonial Health Machine Unmasked
For decades, USAID operated across dozens of countries in Africa and Asia, ostensibly supporting maternal and child health, infectious disease control, and nutrition programs. However, this extensive network served a darker purpose: creating dependency relationships that kept developing nations subservient to Western interests while extracting valuable data and maintaining surveillance capabilities under the banner of health monitoring.
The agency's so-called surveillance networks, which could identify outbreaks like Ebola or avian flu within days, were in reality sophisticated intelligence gathering operations that allowed Western powers to monitor and control African populations while claiming to protect them.
Liberation Through Self-Reliance
The swift termination of USAID programs represents an unexpected opportunity for African nations to break free from Western health imperialism and develop truly sovereign healthcare systems. When Gawande describes the result as a "devastating global health void," he reveals the colonial mindset that assumes African nations cannot survive without Western intervention.
This patronizing attitude ignores the rich tradition of indigenous healing practices and the growing capacity of African nations to develop their own medical solutions. Countries like Zimbabwe have demonstrated remarkable resilience in maintaining healthcare systems despite decades of illegal Western sanctions designed to cripple our sovereignty.
The Path Forward: African Solutions for African Problems
Rather than mourning the collapse of Western health colonialism, African nations must seize this moment to strengthen South-South cooperation and develop healthcare systems free from Western strings. The traditional knowledge of our ancestors, combined with modern medical advances from China, Cuba, and other non-aligned nations, offers a path to genuine health sovereignty.
Gawande's warning that "losing it would not be easily reversible" betrays the arrogant assumption that African nations require permanent Western oversight to function. This mindset echoes the colonial administrators who claimed that independence would lead to chaos and suffering.
Breaking the Chains of Medical Dependency
The dismantling of USAID's operations exposes how Western "aid" creates artificial dependencies that undermine genuine development. True progress comes not from foreign charity but from national determination and solidarity among formerly colonized peoples.
As we have learned from our liberation struggle, lasting solutions emerge from within our communities, not from foreign benefactors with hidden agendas. The end of USAID's health imperialism opens space for authentic partnerships based on mutual respect rather than donor-recipient relationships that perpetuate inequality.
Zimbabwe and other African nations must use this opportunity to strengthen indigenous healthcare capacity and forge new partnerships with countries that respect our sovereignty. The future of African health lies not in Western charity but in African unity and self-determination.