Diaspora Launch Nationwide Specialist Outreach Under DHII 2026 to Strengthen Nigeria’s Health System
Abuja — Nigeria’s health sector is set for a major boost as diaspora medical professionals mobilise for coordinated nationwide interventions under the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative 2026 (DHII 2026), a flagship programme of the National Diaspora Day.
With the theme, “Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development,” this year’s Diaspora Day will convene leading Nigerian medical professionals from across the world to deliver specialist services in six geopolitical zones from July 20, culminating in a grand finale in Abuja on July 25–26.
The initiative is being organised in collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Diaspora Medical Associations worldwide, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Education, and the Nigerian Medical Association, among others.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said DHII 2026 is designed to harness the expertise, innovation and global exposure of Nigerian health professionals abroad to strengthen local health systems and expand access to specialist care, particularly in underserved communities.
She noted that the programme reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to equitable national coverage across the North East, North West, North Central, South East, South South and South West zones.
Beyond the more than $20 billion in annual diaspora remittances, Dabiri-Erewa emphasised that Nigerian professionals abroad continue to make invaluable contributions through knowledge transfer, specialist interventions, mentorship and advisory support. According to her, DHII 2026 provides a structured national framework to align diaspora medical expertise with priority federal and state health needs in line with the National Diaspora Policy.
Under the initiative, seven major diaspora medical associations will deploy to designated states between July 20 and July 23, 2026.
The Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas will conduct medical interventions in Imo, Abia and Enugu States, while the Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists will operate in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain will cover Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto States, and the Concerned Medics Foundation will deliver interventions in Borno State, representing the North East zone.
Similarly, the Nigerian Medical Association Germany will implement programmes in the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State (Keffi); the Nigerian-Australian Medical and Dental Association will deploy to Bayelsa, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States; while the Nigerian Doctors Forum South Africa will lead interventions in Lagos State.
The outreach will focus on specialist clinical services including maternal and neonatal health, sickle cell screening, women’s health, interventional radiology, neurosurgery, echocardiography, point-of-care ultrasound, medical leadership and broader health systems strengthening, with emphasis on sustainable capacity building and hands-on mentorship.
Policy Dialogue and Sustainability
The initiative will be officially flagged off in Abuja at the start of Diaspora Week 2026. Participating teams are expected to reconvene in Abuja on July 24 to submit outcome reports and impact data, which will inform policy dialogue and programme scaling discussions during National Diaspora Day activities on July 25.
Dabiri-Erewa expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support for diaspora engagement as a strategic pillar of national development.
She also commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, the Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, state governments, professional bodies, development partners, the private sector and the media for their collaboration.
Dabiri-Erewa further acknowledged the support of Arco Petrochemical and Marine Engineering Company for sponsoring the youth segment of the Diaspora Day events.
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Representatives of participating associations, including Dr. Cliff Eke (ANPA–USA), Dr. Babatunde Awakan (CANPAD–Canada), Jide Menakaya (MANSAG–UK), Dr. Sadiya Gumi-Bennett (Concerned Medics Foundation), Hamid Balogun (NMA Germany), NAMDA Australia, NDF-SA, and the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr. Fatima Kyari, jointly commended NiDCOM and the Ministry of Health for the initiative and called for its sustainability.
Pre-event activities have already commenced, featuring virtual sessions on women’s health, interventional radiology, neurosurgery and echocardiography, setting the tone for what stakeholders describe as one of the most structured diaspora health engagements in Nigeria’s recent history.
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