Seven Nigerian global health medical associations, alongside the CONSTANMEDICS Foundation, plan to train 5,000 healthcare workers nationwide during the 2026 Diaspora Week, scheduled for 16–26 July, across Nigeria.

The associations include ANPA (USA), CANPAD (Canada), MANSAG (UK), ANDA (Australia), NDF South Africa, NMA Germany, and CONSTANMEDICS Foundation (UK), representing more than 50,000 doctors worldwide committed to strengthening Nigeria’s health workforce.

A cnsultant neonatal paediatrician at Hillingdon Hospital, UK, Dr Jideofor Menakaya, stated this on Thursday at the opening of the 66th National Council on Health (NCH) in Calabar, Cross River State.

The theme of the 66th NCH is, “My Health, My Right: Accelerating Universal Health Coverage Through Equity, Resilience and Innovation,” focusing on reforms, equity, and resilience in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Mr Menakaya said the programme was founded on the vision of the coordinating minister, who approved a groundbreaking healthcare worker framework to improve collaboration and clinical excellence nationwide.

Inaugurated globally at the Minister of State’s Global Health Partnership Conference in March 2025, the initiative called Farnessing, received support from the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigerian in Diaspora Commission, NMA, and state ministries of health.

“It leverages diaspora expertise to co-design programmes aligned with national frameworks, delivering specialist training accessible to professionals both in the UK and Nigeria,” Mr Menakaya said, highlighting its collaborative approach to healthcare development.

“In the Federal Capital Territory, CANPAD (Canada) will focus on medical leadership and accountability, training 75–100 healthcare leaders to strengthen management and implement initiatives such as the Health Sector Renewal Initiative.

“In the North-West, MANSAG (UK) will provide training to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, targeting around 1,000 healthcare professionals in LGAs with the highest mortality rates during National Skills Day.

“In the North-East, the Concerned Medics Foundation will focus on screening, training, and management of patients with sickle cell disease, aiming to train 2,000 healthcare workers to combat Nigeria’s high sickle cell burden.

“For the North-Central region, NMA Germany will provide training in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and cardiology, preparing up to 200 specialists with ongoing mentorship to expand emergency and critical care expertise.”

In the South-East, he said ANPA (USA) would train 1,000 healthcare workers in emergency life support for adults and children, alongside virtual instruction on chronic disease management, addressing Nigeria’s high burden of trauma and illness.

“In the South-South, ANDA (Australia) will train 200 specialists in early diagnosis of endometriosis using ultrasound, aiming to improve women’s reproductive health and reduce infertility complications in the region.

“For the South-West, NDF South Africa will train 300 specialists in interventional radiology, neurosurgery, and gastro-endoscopy, enhancing specialist clinical capacity and standardising care across the region.”

Mr Menakaya said the initiative would improve service delivery, strengthened workforce retention, standardised protocols, and enhanced patient outcomes, urging government agencies, NGOs, and global partners to support the programme.

He added that the initiative represented a new era of diaspora engagement, offering an opportunity to reverse brain drain, transfer skills, and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.

The National Council on Health was inaugurated in 1961, following the creation of the Federal Ministry of Health in 1950.

It was established to strengthen coordination within the health sector. 

(NAN)