Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Enugu State chapter, has made a passionate appeal to aggrieved members and affiliate bodies to return to the association, warning that continued fragmentation will worsen Nigeria's already dire healthcare crisis. The call for unity came on Monday, July 27, 2026, during the unveiling of the association's new state secretariat in New Haven, Enugu, an event that doubled as a platform for reconciliation following months of internal divisions within the medical profession.
Speaking at the ceremony, the outgoing Chairman of NMA Enugu State, Dr. Sunday Okafor, urged doctors to place collective professional interests above personal differences, stressing that unity remains critical to tackling Nigeria's worsening healthcare challenges. "Every achievement recorded during this period has been possible because we worked together as one united family. I encourage us to sustain this spirit of unity beyond this administration. Our Association will always remain stronger when we place collective interest above personal interest," Okafor said. While he did not mention individuals or specific groups by name, his remarks acknowledged the existence of disagreements involving some affiliate bodies that had created friction within the association.
The unveiling of the new secretariat, located in New Haven, Enugu, was described by Okafor as one of the defining achievements of his administration. He noted that the association had previously operated from what he described as an unsuitable office—a shop extension belonging to the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Enugu State. "It wasn't befitting that a parent body would actually be using a shop extension," Okafor said, explaining that his leadership immediately embarked on efforts to secure a more suitable administrative headquarters. Despite challenges, including disputes involving one of the association's affiliate bodies, the vision for a new secretariat materialised.
The new facility was dedicated by the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Prof. Samuel Obiajulu Ike, who blessed the offices and administered the Hippocratic Oath to participants. The ceremony brought together senior medical practitioners, academics, religious leaders and members of the association. Okafor emphasised that the secretariat belongs to every doctor in the state and should serve as a rallying point for unity, describing it as a permanent administrative headquarters for professional development, policy engagement, advocacy, research, collaboration and service to humanity.
Beyond the internal reconciliation, the NMA used the occasion to highlight the broader existential threat facing Nigeria's health sector: the mass migration of healthcare professionals. Okafor lamented that Nigeria has continued to experience one of the highest rates of migration of healthcare professionals globally, with doctors, nurses and other health workers leaving the country in alarming numbers in search of better opportunities. He warned that the consequences of this brain drain are already having a severe impact, including worsening shortages of skilled manpower, increased workload on remaining personnel, longer waiting times, reduced quality of healthcare delivery, and avoidable morbidity and mortality.
The NMA chairman called for coordinated action by governments, policymakers, professional bodies and development partners to end the challenge. The association's appeal for unity comes against the backdrop of a national healthcare workforce crisis. A recent report found that 43,221 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and medical laboratory scientists left Nigeria between 2023 and 2024 alone. The Ministry of Health has disclosed that 16,000 doctors emigrated in five years, leaving only 55,000 licensed doctors for a population of 220 million.
Okafor also announced the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the association, which will be used to review the impacts made in the health sector by the Governor Peter Mbah administration over the past three years. The theme of the AGM, "Mitigating Health Workforce Migration in Nigeria: The Enugu State Experience," reflects the urgency of addressing the exodus of health professionals. Okafor commended Governor Mbah for the support the association has received in the state, while the NMA Board of Trustees Chairman in the state, Emeritus Prof Sam Ohaegbulam, expressed delight that the state leadership could rally round to secure a new secretariat after they were evicted from their previous apartment.
The NMA's call for aggrieved doctors to return comes at a time when the association itself has experienced internal tensions. In recent months, the Enugu State chapter has faced disagreements involving some of its affiliate bodies, though the specifics of these disputes have not been publicly detailed. The association's leadership appears determined to move past these divisions, recognising that a fragmented medical profession cannot effectively advocate for improved healthcare delivery or reverse the tide of medical migration. As Nigeria's healthcare system continues to struggle under the weight of staff shortages and inadequate funding, the NMA's message is clear: unity among doctors is not just a professional ideal but a necessity for survival.
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