MRTB moves to integrate rehabilitation into Nigeria healthcare

The Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria (MRTB) has unveiled a broad push to integrate rehabilitation services into Nigeria’s health system, in a move aimed at closing long-standing gaps in access, policy coordination, and service delivery. Speaking during a media parley on Monday, the Registrar/CEO of MRTB, Prof. Rufai Yusuf-Ahmad, said the initiative is designed […]

The Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria (MRTB) has unveiled a broad push to integrate rehabilitation services into Nigeria’s health system, in a move aimed at closing long-standing gaps in access, policy coordination, and service delivery.

Speaking during a media parley on Monday, the Registrar/CEO of MRTB, Prof. Rufai Yusuf-Ahmad, said the initiative is designed to address systemic weaknesses, particularly the absence of rehabilitation services at the primary healthcare level and the lack of institutional representation within the health governance structure.

He noted that for decades, rehabilitation in Nigeria has remained largely confined to secondary and tertiary health facilities, forcing many patients to travel long distances to access care.

“In the past, there was no rehabilitation at primary healthcare or community level. People will have to go to general hospitals or tertiary hospitals to be able to get rehabilitation,” he said.

The consequence, according to him, is that a large number of Nigerians who require post-treatment support are left without access to essential services that help restore function and independence.

Citing global data, Ahmad stressed that the demand for rehabilitation is significant and often underestimated. “The WHO says that about two in three people, or one in three in most places, but in Africa, especially in Nigeria you have people that will require rehabilitation,” he said.

He explained that while many patients receive treatment for illnesses or injuries, a substantial number are unable to fully recover without rehabilitation support.

“What does it mean that you have an injury or a disease and after you have treatment you are still not able to function? You are unable to walk, you are unable to go to work. Medical rehabilitation professionals come in to help you to be able to regain function,” he added.

At the core of the new push is Nigeria’s engagement with the World Health Organization’s Rehabilitation 2030 Initiative, which promotes the integration of rehabilitation into national health systems.

Ahmad said the initiative expands the focus beyond service delivery and workforce development to include governance, financing, data systems, and assistive technologies, areas that have historically been neglected.

“In the past, in many countries, there is focus on service delivery and workforce. But WHO thought that there are other important aspects of the health system, leadership and governance,” he said.

He highlighted the absence of dedicated structures within government as a major bottleneck.

“If you don’t have a policy or a strategic plan for rehabilitation, the implementation will be disjointed. You need leadership. Under the Ministry of Health and the state’s ministries, there should be a rehabilitation division or department with a rehabilitation officer that is responsible,” he said.

The lack of dedicated funding has also hindered growth in the sector.
“There is need for financing. If you don’t have a budget specifically for rehabilitation it can go into any other sector,” Ahmad noted, adding that data gaps have further weakened planning and policy decisions.

To address these challenges, MRTB, in collaboration with stakeholders and the Federal Ministry of Health, has initiated a coordinated reform process. This led to the establishment of a national rehabilitation technical working group and a nationwide situational assessment.

“The data is now available,” he said, noting that a validation meeting scheduled for April 28–29, 2026, will bring together stakeholders from states, universities, hospitals, and professional bodies.

Following this, Nigeria is expected to develop its first comprehensive National Rehabilitation Policy, alongside a strategic plan and monitoring framework.

Beyond policy, the Board is also working to decentralise services by integrating rehabilitation into primary healthcare and building a community-level workforce.

“We are currently working with many non-governmental organizations to ensure that what the minister has approved, we have the workforce to be able to implement that,” Ahmad said.

He emphasised that MRTB’s approach goes beyond regulation to actively supporting sector development.

“As I’ve said, you can’t regulate what does not exist,” he stated. “We want to interact with people to be able to communicate the standards but at the same time, when there are gaps in practice, we work with organizations to be able to bridge that gap.”]