TITLE:
From Episodic Medical Missions to Sustainable Primary Health Care Strengthening in Nigeria: Development and Scale-Up of a Diaspora Nurse-Led Adoption Model
AUTHORS:
Grace Ogiehor-Enoma, Emilia Iwu, Esther Oshunluyi, Ngozi Mbibi, Titilola Turton, Sandra Anyoha, Izoduwa Asoro
KEYWORDS:
Primary Health Care, Diaspora Nursing, Health Systems Strengthening, Nursing Leadership, Nigeria
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.16 No.10,
October
23,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Primary Health Centers (PHCs) are essential to equitable access and Universal Health Coverage, yet many facilities in Nigeria have persistent gaps in infrastructure, equipment, workforce capacity, information systems, and service readiness. In response, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America developed the Adopt-A-Primary Health Center Initiative, a diaspora nurse-led model that provides sustained support for locally governed facilities. Objective: To describe the development, implementation, and early reach of the initiative and assess its relevance as a potentially scalable population health strategy for strengthening primary health care in settings where community-level access to essential services remains constrained. Methods: This descriptive program report used health-systems-strengthening, quality-improvement, and population-health perspectives. Implementation included facility selection and baseline assessment, stakeholder consultation, SWOT analysis, phased rehabilitation, equipment procurement, workforce development, documentation and reporting support, telehealth where feasible, and sustainability planning. Diaspora nurses collaborated with PHC personnel, community leaders, local government authorities, and other stakeholders. Results: By 2025, 35 facilities had been assessed, of which 29 met the stipulated application criteria and were adopted across nine states and three geopolitical zones. Renovation was completed at 26 adopted PHCs and in progress at three. Equipment was deployed according to facility-level needs assessments, and staff from all 29 adopted PHCs received initial training in environment of care, care coordination, data management, customer service, and infection prevention and control. Program records from pilot facilities documented 20,813 patient visits in 2022, demonstrating substantial service reach. Conclusion: The initiative demonstrates the feasibility of organizing diaspora nursing expertise around sustained support for locally governed PHCs. Its potential contribution lies in combining infrastructure improvement, workforce support, community partnership, and governance alignment. The initiative provides a replicable framework for further evaluation of diaspora-supported PHC strengthening and progress toward Universal Health Coverage in resource-constrained settings; its scalability and effectiveness remain to be established prospectively.