The Global Ripple Effect of USAID Cuts

I had a persistent cough, a nagging illness that wouldn't relent. Finally, I sought medical help here in Lagos. 

After tests, the diagnosis was clear: a bacterial infection. Relief washed over me, until the doctor delivered the devastating news: the prescribed medication was available, but it was fake. My medication, the cure I needed, was a sham. 

Sybil Nmezi on the impact of USAID and other donors cuts to international development assistance

This wasn’t a scene from a dystopian novel; it was my reality, a stark reminder of the vulnerability created by weakened health systems. And, as I've come to suspect, it was a direct consequence of funding cuts like those recently imposed on USAID.

These cuts aren't just abstract policy decisions; they are life-altering, sometimes life-ending, events. They create a vacuum, one that will be filled with suffering, disinformation, and a dangerous erosion of global health progress. My experience with fake medicine is a microcosm of this larger crisis.

Heartless Vandalism

The impact is already devastating. In Nigeria, the suspension of USAID funding has jeopardized HIV treatment programs, family planning initiatives, educational scholarships, and agricultural support. We're seeing potential shortages of life-saving antiretroviral drugs, halted maternal health campaigns, and struggling farmers pushed further into poverty.

Horrific stories are emerging across Africa. Mothers turned away seeking vaccinations, essential HIV treatment being withdrawn. Crises happening now. But it's not just about access to care; it's about the quality of that care. My experience with fake medication underscores this: without reliable funding and oversight, even available treatments become unreliable, even dangerous.

The US was a leading force in global health initiatives. Their withdrawal destabilizes entire systems. When the largest contributor to global family planning programs steps back, who fills the void? The UK, with its proud history of supporting family planning, has also reduced funding by at least 30%. Many other donors are doing the same.

Every week, hundreds of thousands of women and girls are already denied access to contraception due to these cuts. This leads to unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and increased strain on already overwhelmed maternity services. How many more will face the challenge of finding genuine medicine, like I did, because of the strain placed on local health systems?

The Erosion of Trust and Information – a dangerous uncertainty 

Beyond physical health, these cuts threaten the very foundation of evidence-based decision-making. The removal of vital resources like the Demographic and Health Surveys website is chilling. It creates a space where disinformation thrives, where science can be replaced by lies and propaganda.

When patients can't trust the medication they receive, when vital data vanishes, how can communities, professionals and policy makers make the best decisions? This is a dangerous breeding ground for mistrust and despair.

Our Call to Action: Restoring Trust, Building Resilience, and Ensuring Real Cures - For Me, And For Everyone.

Governments may frame these cuts as a "difficult decision” or worse make bogus or inflated claims about the abuse of aid. But for those who will suffer and die, and for those who will struggle to access genuine, life-saving medicines, like me, it's a clear abdication of responsibility. This is not the time for responsible nations to step back. It's time to step up.

We must:

• Diversify our funding: To ensure vital programs continue and quality is maintained, so that people can trust the medical care they receive, so that no one has to face what I faced.

• Bear witness: To ensure that citizens around the world are aware of the impacts that these cuts are having and will have.

• Advocate for transparency and accountability: To ensure aid is used effectively, with robust checks to guarantee quality, so that fake cures become a thing of the past.

• Combat disinformation: To promote access to accurate information and support systems that guarantee access to verified medicine and healthcare.

• Support local organizations: To empower communities to provide their own tailored solutions.

• Recognize the interconnectedness of global health: Because a crisis anywhere impacts us all.

That persistent cough, my fake medication, is a symbol of a larger crisis. It’s a wake-up call. We cannot allow funding cuts to undermine the fundamental right to health. Giwyn, and organizations like it, play a crucial role in bridging these gaps and advocating for a more just and equitable world. Let's rise to the challenge and ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to real cures, not fake promises, so that no one else has to have my experience.