By Peter Omopo
Nigerian medical professionals in the diaspora are set to support healthcare delivery across the country as part of activities marking the 2026 Diaspora Day.
The initiative, themed “Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development,” will be implemented under the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative 2026 (DHII 2026). It is being organised in collaboration with the (NiDCOM), the , the and the .
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, NiDCOM Chairman/CEO said DHII 2026 aims to leverage the expertise and global experience of Nigerian doctors abroad to strengthen local health systems, expand access to specialist care and mentor health workers in underserved communities.
She explained that the programme provides a structured national framework aligned with the National Diaspora Policy as well as federal and state health priorities.
Seven major diaspora medical associations have been assigned to specific states for the outreach. The will cover Imo, Abia and Enugu states, while the has been assigned to the Federal Capital Territory.
The will operate in Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto states, and the will focus on Borno State. The will serve the FCT and Nasarawa State, while the will cover Bayelsa, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states. The will lead activities in Lagos State.
The outreach is expected to provide specialist clinical services in maternal and neonatal health, sickle cell screening, women’s health, interventional radiology, neurosurgery, echocardiography and point-of-care ultrasound. It will also focus on medical leadership training and broader health systems strengthening, with an emphasis on sustainable capacity building and hands-on mentorship.
The initiative will be officially flagged off in Abuja at the start of Diaspora Week 2026, after which medical teams will deploy to their assigned states.
Participating associations are scheduled to reconvene in Abuja on July 24 ahead of the national Diaspora Day on July 25–26 to submit impact reports that will inform policy dialogue and potential expansion of the programme.
Dabiri-Erewa expressed appreciation to President for supporting diaspora engagement, as well as to relevant ministers, state governments, professional bodies, development partners and private sector stakeholders.
Representatives of the participating associations welcomed the initiative and called for its sustainability, noting that pre-event online sessions on women’s health, interventional radiology, neurosurgery and echocardiography have already commenced.
