In recent times, three children lost their lives following the cutoff of funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Their parents believe the loss of medical services supported by these funds contributed significantly to their deaths.
Abdullahi Ibrahim from Nigeria, aged 10, suffered a fatal asthma attack. Purity Wamboi from Kenya, aged 16, contracted tuberculosis, and Ibrahim Garba from Nigeria, aged 8, succumbed to typhoid.
Abdullahi Ibrahim’s Struggle with Asthma
Abdullahi was diagnosed with asthma at age 5, and his condition worsened over time. According to his father, Ibrahim Musa, Abdullahi often woke up gasping for air. The family relied on free medical services supported by USAID at Mucciya Primary Health Care in Sabon Gari, Nigeria.
However, when Abdullahi faced a severe attack last year, the clinic informed them that drugs were no longer free due to the halting of USAID funding. Musa believes that continued funding might have saved his child.
Purity Wamboi and the Tuberculosis Misdiagnosis
Last August, in Nairobi, Kenya, Purity Wamboi experienced severe coughs and chest pains. Her mother, Rachael Wanjiru, noticed her daughter’s deteriorating condition but struggled to afford proper healthcare.
After several hospital visits, Purity was misdiagnosed with pneumonia. It was later revealed that she had tuberculosis. By then, the infection had severely affected her lungs. USAID had previously funded a network of community health promoters who could have detected Purity’s tuberculosis sooner, but these services ceased, leaving the family unsupported.
Ibrahim Garba’s Battle with Typhoid
Ibrahim Garba contracted typhoid fever in early 2025 due to contaminated drinking water. Initially, the local clinic provided antibiotics for free, thanks to USAID support. However, the child’s condition worsened after he failed to complete the treatment.
By the time they needed a fresh round of antibiotics, the clinic’s supplies weren’t free anymore. Financial constraints forced the family to abandon vital healthcare, ultimately leading to Ibrahim’s death.
Government Response and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs)
The U.S. State Department, in response to inquiries about these cases, highlighted its commitment to bilateral health agreements with countries like Kenya and Nigeria, known as MOUs. These agreements aim to support health systems and surveillance activities. However, they represent a significant reduction compared to previous USAID funding levels.
Experts like Brooke Nichols from Boston University suggest that the abrupt cessation of USAID funding caused supply chain and trust issues, disrupting essential healthcare services.
The Human Cost
The stories of Abdullahi, Purity, and Ibrahim highlight the tragic consequences of funding cuts. Their families are left with memories and grief while healthcare workers note the gaps left by the funding halt. Community health promoter Tabitha Mugweru expressed her sentiments on these events, pondering if continued USAID support might have saved Purity.
“If [USAID] did not withdraw their support,” Mugweru said, “maybe Purity could be alive today.”
Photographers from The Everyday Projects documented these experiences, shedding light on the impacts of funding cessation.
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