The United States signed bilateral health cooperation Memoranda of Understanding with the Republic of Honduras and the Republic of Senegal, according to a March 13 announcement. The agreements are part of the Trump Administration’s America First Global Health Strategy and aim to strengthen partnerships in both the Western Hemisphere and Africa.
These new MOUs are intended to improve public health systems, disease detection, and response capabilities in both countries. The initiative reflects ongoing efforts to address infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis while supporting local capacity building.
In Honduras, the Department of State signed a five-year agreement valued at $46.5 million. This includes $29.6 million from the United States and $16.9 million from Honduras, with $9.6 million dedicated specifically to global health security. The MOU aims for Honduras to detect outbreaks within seven days, notify U.S. authorities within one day, and respond within seven days by 2030. Investments will focus on laboratory capacity, epidemiological surveillance, supply chain modernization, national referral systems, and introducing American technologies like lenacapavir. By 2028, Honduras plans to absorb nearly all U.S.-funded frontline healthcare workers into its own payroll and gradually take over procurement responsibilities for HIV-related supplies.
Senegal’s five-year MOU totals $90.4 million, with $63.1 million expected from the United States—pending Congressional approval—and $27.3 million from Senegal in co-financing. The agreement supports efforts against HIV and malaria while advancing digital health records, telemedicine initiatives, laboratory upgrades, facility improvements, quality control measures for governance reforms, and establishing a National Institute of Public Health. Senegal also aims for pharmaceutical sovereignty by producing 30 percent of medicines locally using government funds.
Both agreements include significant funding for global health security: $9.6 million in Honduras and $15.7 million in Senegal will be used to enhance laboratory infrastructure and digital systems critical for detecting infectious disease outbreaks that could affect populations in both countries.
As of March 13, the State Department has signed 26 bilateral global health MOUs representing more than $20 billion in new funding—including over $12 billion in U.S assistance—with countries across Africa and Latin America.
