African nations, health workers hit hard by Trump’s USAID programs’ suspension

The sudden halt in USAID funding by US president Donald Trump has sparked a growing crisis for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and healthcare workers across Africa, who are now scrambling to cope with the financial and logistical fallout.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) last week announced the suspension of its programs in several African countries, citing concerns over local governance, accountability, corruption and mismanagement. However, the move has sent shockwaves throughout the continent, leaving thousands of frontline workers, aid organizations, and vulnerable communities facing an uncertain future. USAID has played a pivotal role in funding health initiatives, infrastructure projects, and agricultural programs in countries such as Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan where millions really now face an uncertain future.
For instance in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe, the agency has supported vital health services, including maternal care, vaccination campaigns, and HIV/AIDS treatment. Now, with funding frozen, many health facilities are running low on essential medicines, while NGOs have been forced to scale back or even suspend programs that serve millions of people. “Without USAID support, we risk losing decades of progress in HIV care,” said Samuel Kato, a healthcare worker in Kampala. “We simply don’t have the resources to fill the gap, and patients are already feeling the effects.” To mitigate the impact of the aid freeze, Nigerian authorities have now launched a committee to develop a transition and sustainability plan for USAID-funded health programs, aiming to secure new financial support for critical health programs.