“We Lost Access to Our Own Data”: How USAID Cuts Disrupted Life-Saving Health Services in Northern Nigeria

By Stanley Osayi, EngenderHealth Nigeria

A quiet crisis is unfolding in Northern Nigeria, where the loss of USAID support has left health systems fractured and families without care.

A Lifeline for Public Health in Nigeria 

With USAID’s support, life-saving programs reached families across Kebbi State at every level of the health system. Newborn care units in twelve general hospitals were fully equipped to give fragile babies a fighting chance. People living with HIV received medicines, testing, and compassionate care thanks to dedicated partners managing these services.

Organizations like EngenderHealth worked closely with USAID to restore hope and dignity by providing critical surgeries for women suffering from fistula and training health workers to offer modern family planning options including the hormonal IUD. These programs were more than just services. They were lifelines for countless families.  

Dr. Kangiwa recalls:

“Before the USAID suspension, things were working well. Medicines were available, staff were paid, services were free, and all things were moving perfectly. Commodities for HIV treatment were being distributed quickly, capacity building for medical personnel was improving counseling and care, and health systems were being strengthened with infrastructure investments.” 

A Sudden and Devastating Cut 

But when USAID halted funding in 2025, the impact was immediate and devastating. 

“The programs stopped,” says Dr. Kangiwa. “Accessibility to data was immediately impacted. Staff salaries were suspended. Services were disrupted across the board.” 

What many don’t realize is just how essential data management is to health systems. In Kebbi, a Nigerian consulting firm supporting the project’s backend had been managing logistics and health data (everything from tracking HIV drug stock to patient information) using laptops, software, and their own trained personnel.

Unfortunately, none of this data (laptops, login details, lists, etc.) was transitioned to Kebbi State before USAID’s funding stopped.  

“We lost access to our own data,” Dr. Kangiwa explains. “That’s the key source for decisions in health—what drugs to order, where the need is greatest, how to respond and prepare for various health emergencies. Without it, we are working blind.” 

Among Dr. Kangiwa’s greatest concerns are the severe impact on HIV and maternal care services. Facilities have run out of essential medicines. Some programs have been suspended indefinitely. The trust between healthcare providers and communities has begun to erode. 

He says: 

“These interventions supported the individual person and the community at large. Now, people feel the absence.” 

Dr. Kangiwa’s story is not unique.

Across Nigeria, especially in underserved northern states like Kebbi, USAID-backed programs were a crucial backbone of reproductive and maternal healthcare. 

The end of USAID support did not simply create a funding gap; it destabilized entire health systems and disrupted the care people depend on. 

A Call to Restore Funds 

Dr. Kangiwa urges:

“Every program should have a sustainability plan and a transition process to handover key information. Don’t just leave with the laptops and the data. We need to equip and train the local staff. We need to prepare for a handover. We need to transition data and ensure people have access to laptops and devices, with the passwords and log-in details.” 

As global leaders reconsider the future of foreign aid, voices like Dr. Kangiwa’s need to be heard. 

For him, the message is simple:

“We need restoration—immediate restoration—and a clear plan to sustain what we’ve built. Lives are at stake.” 

This is not just about funding. It is about commitment. When support ends without warning and there is no handover, communities are left to pick up the pieces. Programs stop. Data is lost. Trust is broken. And people suffer the consequences. Global health partnerships cannot start strong and then walk away. They must finish by standing with the people who depend on them. 

As Dr. Kangiwa reminds us, the stakes are too high to look away. Now is the time to pay attention, speak up, and demand the care these communities deserve. 

The loss of USAID funding has put lives at risk—but the need for reproductive health care hasn’t gone away, and neither have we. EngenderHealth is still working alongside local partners to protect access to care, and we’re calling on global leaders to do the same. Join us in taking a stand.