The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has raised the alarm over the risk of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) being imported into Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to urgently strengthen cross-border surveillance and preventive health measures.
The association made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and Scientific Conference held from August 25 to 29, 2026, at Re-Meritona Hotels and Suites, Abakaliki.
The communiqué, which was signed by MDCAN President, Prof. Appolos Ndukuba, and Secretary-General, Associate Prof. Augustine Duru, was read to journalists in Abakaliki on Saturday by Ndukuba.
MDCAN said it was particularly concerned about the persistence of Ebola outbreaks in some African countries and the elevated risk of transmission into Nigeria, stressing that the situation required immediate and coordinated action by relevant authorities.
“NEC highlighted the imminent risk of transmission of Ebola to Nigeria and underscored the urgent need to strengthen national cross-border surveillance and preventive health measures,” the association stated.
The consultants called on the Federal Government to intensify disease surveillance at Nigeria’s borders, strengthen preparedness and reinforce preventive mechanisms capable of detecting and containing any potential imported case before it escalates into community transmission.
The association also expressed concern over the broader challenges confronting Nigeria’s health sector, including rising multidimensional poverty, insecurity, shortage of skilled manpower and the increasing workload confronting healthcare professionals.
According to MDCAN, the worsening socioeconomic conditions have continued to exert pressure on healthcare delivery and undermine the capacity of health workers to provide efficient services to Nigerians.
“NEC notes with serious concern the rising multidimensional poverty and security challenges in the country and their negative impact on healthcare delivery,” the communiqué stated.
The consultants consequently urged the government to formulate and implement policies capable of improving the economic fortunes of Nigerians, while deploying modern technologies, including digital health solutions, to strengthen healthcare delivery.
They also called for decisive measures to address the country’s security challenges, noting that insecurity has significant implications for access to healthcare, movement of health personnel and the overall resilience of the health system.
On the welfare of doctors and other healthcare professionals, MDCAN urged the Federal Government to expedite the conclusion of the ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations and ensure its immediate circularisation and implementation.
The association further demanded the removal of bottlenecks delaying the implementation of the approved increase in the retirement age of skilled and clinical health workers from 60 to 65 years.
It said the policy, if effectively implemented, would help address the depletion of Nigeria’s already inadequate human resources for health.
“NEC calls on government to urgently remove all bottlenecks in the implementation of the approved retirement age of 65 years for skilled and clinical health workers as this would stem the depletion of the already scarce human resources for health,” MDCAN said.
The association also expressed concern over delays in the payment of outstanding professional allowances and other emolument arrears owed its members, warning that prolonged non-payment could undermine industrial harmony and disrupt services in hospitals.
It therefore urged the government to urgently commence and complete payment of the outstanding arrears “so as to avert disruption of services in our hospitals.”
MDCAN equally called for the immediate implementation of the special pension scheme for medical and dental consultants as provided for under the Pension Reform Act.
On medical education, the association rejected the continued insistence by some universities that a PhD should be mandatory for the appointment, promotion and career progression of clinical lecturers.
It argued that imposing the requirement could have far-reaching consequences for medical education in Nigeria, particularly at a time when the country is grappling with a shortage of medical personnel.
MDCAN urged the government to prevail on the National Universities Commission (NUC) and universities to recognise the clinical fellowship as the appropriate requirement for the employment, promotion and career progression of clinical lecturers.
The association also called on university authorities that were yet to comply with government directives on the welfare of medical and dental lecturers to do so immediately to avert a disruption of medical education.
The NEC meeting, which was preceded by medical outreaches in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area, and Oferekpe, Izzi Local Government Area, provided free medical treatment and drugs to about 800 patients, according to the association.
MDCAN commended the Ebonyi State Government for what it described as deliberate efforts to improve healthcare delivery in the state.
The association also expressed appreciation to Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for providing an enabling environment for the conference and acknowledged the contributions of the leadership of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA), and David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH), among other stakeholders.
The conference, which had the theme, “Mitigating the Health Impact of Nigeria’s Rising Multidimensional Poverty: The Dilemma of Healthcare Providers in a Strained Economy and the Demand of Work,” featured a keynote presentation by former Minister of Health, Prof. C.O. Onyebuchi Chukwu.
A sub-theme on “Artificial Intelligence Technology/Digital Health and Medicine” was presented by Prof. Obumneme Ezeanosike.
The conference brought together medical and dental consultants and other stakeholders to deliberate on emerging challenges confronting Nigeria’s healthcare system and possible strategies for strengthening service delivery.
