The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has announced the launch of the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative (DHII) 2026, a nationwide health intervention programme aimed at leveraging the expertise of Nigerian medical professionals in the diaspora to strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Nigeria, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa said DHII 2026 is designed to bring specialist healthcare services closer to communities in Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The initiative will take place in the week preceding the National Diaspora Day 2026 celebrations in July, under the theme “Harnessing Global Diaspora Medical Expertise to Strengthen Local Health Systems for National Development.”
She explained that beyond financial remittances, Nigerian health professionals abroad offer invaluable contributions through skills transfer, specialist care, mentorship, and health systems expertise.
DHII 2026 provides a coordinated framework to align this expertise with priority national and state-level health needs, particularly in underserved communities.
Read Also: NiDCOM Seeks Release of Nigerian on Saudi Death Row
The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with key institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Education, the Nigerian Medical Association, and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
Seven Nigerian diaspora medical associations from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and South Africa will lead specialised medical interventions across selected states between 20 and 23 July 2026.
DHII 2026 will be officially flagged off in Abuja at the start of Diaspora Week 2026, after which medical teams will deploy to their assigned states to deliver targeted interventions focused on sustainable capacity building, improved access to specialist services and strengthened health systems.
At the end of the programme, participating associations will return to Abuja to present impact data and outcomes during the National Diaspora Day celebrations.
Dr. Dabiri-Erewa expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his continued support for diaspora engagement as a strategic pillar of national development.
She also called on Nigerian health professionals in the diaspora to partner with NiDCOM in building resilient, equitable, and people-centred healthcare systems, describing DHII 2026 as a landmark effort to translate diaspora expertise into measurable health impact.