FG Hails Diaspora Health Professionals as 2026 Initiative Delivers Care to 10,000 Nigerians
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Federal Government has commended Nigerian health professionals in the diaspora for strengthening healthcare delivery across the country, revealing that nearly 10,000 Nigerians benefited from specialist medical services, surgeries, diagnostics and other interventions under the 2026 Nigeria Diaspora Health Impact Initiative (NDHII).
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, following the 2026 National Diaspora Merit Award Dinner and Closing Ceremony of the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the initiative as a remarkable demonstration of patriotism by Nigerian health professionals abroad, noting that their contributions have significantly strengthened healthcare delivery and supported the Federal Government’s health sector reform agenda.
He applauded thousands of Nigerian healthcare professionals who voluntarily returned from different parts of the world to offer specialist medical services, conduct life-saving surgeries, mentor local health workers and strengthen healthcare systems across the country.
According to the Minister, diaspora medical teams drawn from organisations including the Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists (CANPAD), Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain (MANSAG), Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), Nigerian Australian Medical Doctors Association (NAMDA), Nigerian Doctors Forum South Africa, Nigerian Medical Association Germany, Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association UK, and the Concerned Medics Foundation delivered healthcare interventions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Dr. Salako disclosed that the initiative directly impacted nearly 10,000 Nigerians through medical consultations, specialist surgeries, diagnostic services, telemedicine, sickle cell screening and other healthcare interventions.
He added that more than 2,000 frontline healthcare workers also received advanced training, ensuring that the benefits of the programme would continue long after the medical missions ended.
“The initiative directly impacted nearly 10,000 Nigerians through medical consultations, specialist surgeries, diagnostics, telemedicine services, sickle cell screening and other interventions while training over 2,000 frontline healthcare workers,” the Minister said.
Highlighting some of the programme’s achievements, Salako said over 1,000 frontline health workers were trained in the Safer Births Bundle of Care across Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto States, while more than 4,000 medical consultations and over 500 surgeries were conducted in Enugu, Imo and Abia States.
He further noted that advanced interventional radiology, neurosurgery and endoscopy procedures were carried out in Lagos, while healthcare professionals also provided ultrasound-based diagnosis training for endometriosis in Edo State and expanded telemedicine and primary healthcare services in the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State.
The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with Nigerian health professionals abroad by simplifying professional licensing procedures, facilitating locum arrangements, supporting customs and visa waivers for medical missions, and encouraging diaspora investments in hospitals, diagnostic centres and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
While acknowledging the migration of healthcare workers over the years, Salako said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is implementing reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving healthcare financing, infrastructure, workforce welfare and professional development.
He also called for sustained collaboration beyond annual medical missions through telemedicine, digital health, joint clinical research, structured training partnerships, technology transfer, public-private partnerships and diaspora-led investments.
“Nigeria’s health system will ultimately be strengthened through the collective efforts of Nigerians both at home and abroad,” Salako said, urging diaspora professionals to register on the newly launched Nigerians in Diaspora Advanced Health Programme (NiDAH) Portal and the Diaspora Health Registry as structured platforms for contributing to national healthcare development.
The Minister equally commended the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, members of the joint planning committee, participating state governments and development partners for ensuring the success of the 2026 Diaspora Health Impact Initiative.
