From Lassa To Cholera: Nigeria’s Unending Outbreaks And The Workforce Crisis Driving Them -By Arise Victor Oluwaseyifunmi

Nigeria can’t stop outbreaks without the right workforce!

Nigeria’s health sector is under mounting strain from a convergence of infectious disease outbreaks, persistent endemic illnesses and a worsening workforce crisis. The issue constantly reveals deeper systemic weaknesses in how the country organizes and deploys its health workforce. The trend of deficiencies in early detection, surveillance, and community-level prevention contributes to high mortality rate in Nigeria. Lassa Fever outbreak in Nigeria between January and mid-March 2026 has claimed over 160 lives with 637 confirmed cases. The increase in case fatality rate to 25.1%, higher than the 18.4% reported during the same period in 2025 shows the worsening trend.

At the same time, ten states have been placed on high alert due to forecasts of heavy rainfall and flooding which will increase the likelihood of cholera and other waterborne diseases. Despite the predicted threat requires proactive public health planning, preparedness remains inadequate. Furthermore, Nigeria recorded 20,838 new HIV infections between January and March 2026, while tuberculosis cases reached a historic 458,534 in 2025 and predicted to be higher in 2026. Another major challenge is a critical shortage of healthcare workers in the country. The number of practicing doctors has dropped from 55,000 to about 40,000 within a year whereas, about 300,000 is needed for a population exceeding 220 million.

However, the issue is not just about the statistics, it is particularly centered on structure and utilization. Nigeria has trained public health professionals, yet many are underutilized or excluded from roles that match their expertise. Instead, clinicians often take on both preventive and clinical-focus responsibilities and eventually create inefficiencies in both due to lack of focus and burnout. The recent push for centralization of regulatory authority across health professions reportedly sponsored by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) shows concerns about domination rather than promoting collaboration for effective healthcare. No single cadre can address the country’s complex health challenges alone.

Lagos State has pioneered excellence by integrating public health cadre into its health workforce targeted to strengthen prevention, emergency preparedness and outbreak response. It is essential for the federal government and other states to follow suit. Nigeria’s health future depends not just on treating disease, but on preventing it. Achieving this requires placing the right expertise at the center of the system. Public health departments exist across government agencies but they are not adequately staffed with the right professionals.

Nigeria must prioritize three actions: First, nationwide recruitment of public health professionals into appropriate roles. Second, a clear delineation of responsibilities that allows clinicians to focus on patient care while public health experts lead prevention and population health strategies. Third, stronger inter-professional collaboration in the health sector anchored in mutual respect and shared goals.

THE COST OF INACTION IS TOO HIGH!

Arise Victor Oluwaseyifunmi
Writer & Author | Young Academic
Public Health Researcher
Health Systems Reform Advocate | Pan-Africanist