The Public Health and Infectious Disease Management Practitioners Association of Nigeria (PHIDMPAN) has reaffirmed its strong support for the proposed legislation establishing the National Institute for Public Health and Infectious Diseases (NIPHID), Zaria.
Speaking during the public hearing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Infectious Diseases, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of PHIDMPAN and Dean, Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Federal University Otuoke, Professor Khadijat Toyin Musah, presented a comprehensive memorandum on behalf of the Association and the Faculty.
The memorandum commended the National Assembly for initiating legislation that seeks to enhance Nigeria’s capacity for disease prevention, surveillance, research, specialist clinical care, and public health innovation.
Professor Musah emphasized that PHIDMPAN fully supports the establishment of the proposed Institute and considers it a strategic investment in Nigeria’s long-term health security.
The Don described the Bill as a visionary initiative capable of significantly strengthening Nigeria’s public health security, infectious disease research, workforce development, and outbreak preparedness.
She noted that the Institute should serve not only as a specialist tertiary hospital but also as a national centre for research, innovation, workforce development, postgraduate education, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Addressing concerns that the proposed Institute could duplicate the functions of existing public health agencies, Professor Musah clarified that the objectives of the Bill are complementary rather than duplicative.
She explained that operational public health agencies focus primarily on disease surveillance and emergency response, while a national institute would provide broader leadership in scientific research, professional training, policy development, technological innovation, and capacity building. The Association therefore believes that strengthening institutional capacity should not be interpreted as creating institutional overlap.
The Association also highlighted the urgent need for sustained investment in Nigeria’s public health workforce. PHIDMPAN stressed that the country requires highly trained multidisciplinary professionals capable of responding effectively to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases while advancing research, implementation science, vaccination programmes, and community-based disease prevention.
As part of its submission, PHIDMPAN proposed amendments aimed at strengthening the governance and operational structure of the proposed Institute.
Among the recommendations were broader multidisciplinary representation on the Governing Board and National Advisory Council, inclusion of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Public Health Nursing leadership, nursing service administrators, and PHIDMPAN itself as a recognized stakeholder in infectious disease workforce development.
The Association also recommended that eligibility for appointment as Director-General should be based on competence and leadership experience in public health and infectious diseases rather than being restricted to one professional discipline.
The memorandum further advocated for the establishment of dedicated Departments of Nursing Services, Public Health Nursing, and Infection Prevention and Control within the proposed Institute, alongside expanded postgraduate multidisciplinary training programmes and professional certification pathways that include nursing, infectious diseases and vaccinology, epidemiology, environmental health, pharmacy, laboratory sciences, and other related disciplines.
PHIDMPAN also informed the Committee of its contributions to national public health capacity development, particularly its leadership in developing the National Diploma Curriculum in Infectious Disease and Vaccinology.
The Association noted that this initiative reflects its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s infectious disease workforce and aligns closely with the objectives of the proposed Institute.
Professor Musah reiterated that modern public health practice depends on collaboration among physicians, nurses, public health nurses, epidemiologists, laboratory scientists, pharmacists, environmental health professionals, veterinarians, community health practitioners, and other experts.
She observed that governance structures reflecting this diversity are better positioned to deliver effective policies, stronger institutional ownership, and sustainable health outcomes.
PHIDMPAN commended the House Committee on Infectious Diseases for providing stakeholders with an opportunity to contribute to the legislative process and reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the National Assembly, the Federal Ministry of Health, relevant agencies, academic institutions, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders in advancing Nigeria’s health security agenda.
The Association expressed confidence that, with appropriate amendments, the National Institute for Public Health and Infectious Diseases will become a centre of excellence for research, specialist training, innovation, and public health systems strengthening, contributing meaningfully to improved health outcomes for all Nigerians.
