USAID’s Pamela Gado drives major shift in Nigeria’s HIV testing landscape

Nigeria’s HIV response is undergoing a quiet but significant transformation, driven in part by Pamela Gado, a Program Manager at USAID Nigeria who has become a central figure in modernising the country’s testing and treatment systems.

Her work brings together policy innovation, technical expertise, and a strong commitment to reaching people who have long been underserved by traditional health models.

Gado has played a defining role in the development of Nigeria’s national HIV Testing Services and HIV Self Testing Guidelines, documents that have become key references for healthcare workers across the country.

Working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health and a wide network of partners, she helped translate global HIV frameworks into practical tools suited to Nigeria’s realities. These guidelines now support a wider range of testing approaches, from facility-based services to community outreach and self-testing kits.

The aim is to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of age, gender, or socioeconomic background, can access testing without barriers. Her work extends far beyond drafting policies. Gado has overseen the creation of training curricula and digital data tools designed to strengthen service delivery and improve decision-making at all levels.

The materials emphasise clarity and ease of use, giving healthcare providers the confidence to apply new methods in their daily work. Improved data systems have also made it easier to track results in real time, from the number of people tested to how quickly individuals are linked to treatment after diagnosis.

These tools have been integrated into national health information systems, a step that supports long term sustainability. One of the areas where Gado’s impact is most visible is in the expansion of HIV services for children and adolescents, groups that often fall through the cracks of standard health interventions.

Acknowledging that young people face unique challenges such as stigma and limited access to youth-friendly services, she championed community-based and family-centred testing strategies. These include introducing HIV screening into child welfare programmes, school health initiatives, and youth centres.

Her support for index case testing, which focuses on the family members of people living with HIV, has helped improve case detection among children while also creating a safer environment for disclosure and counselling. Her colleagues describe her as both strategic and compassionate, a leader who can interpret complex datasets yet remains deeply attentive to the experiences of frontline workers.

Within USAID’s health team and across partner organisations, she is known for promoting mentorship, shared learning, and inclusive leadership. She also places strong emphasis on gender equity and the advancement of young professionals in public health.

Gado’s influence is evident in the increased coherence of Nigeria’s HIV response, where policies, data, and service delivery systems are becoming better aligned.

Her efforts have strengthened public trust, improved the quality of care, and reinforced the foundations for long-term epidemic control.

As Nigeria continues its push toward more resilient and people-centred health systems, her work stands out as an example of how technical expertise and human empathy can drive meaningful progress.