In a development that has drawn international attention, nearly $10 million worth of contraceptives—originally funded through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)—are scheduled for disposal rather than being delivered to global health programs.
The supplies, which include long-acting birth control methods such as IUDs, implants, and hormone-based pills, are currently stockpiled in a warehouse in Geel, Belgium. Many of the products remain viable for years, with expiration dates ranging as far as 2031, according to CNN.
The decision to dispose of the contraceptives follows recent restructuring of U.S. foreign aid distribution. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that foreign assistance would now be managed directly by the State Department. This shift came alongside the closure of USAID as part of broader administrative changes implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency.
Among the affected programs are reproductive health initiatives that previously relied on supplies like those stored in Belgium. The contraceptives were initially procured under previous health contracts, which have since been discontinued.
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