ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to the African Union’s (AU) ambitious target of deploying two million Community Health Workers (CHWs) across the continent by 2030.
Speaking at the opening of the Africa CDC-led continental consultation in Abuja today, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, declared CHWs “our first line of defence,” noting that Nigeria has tripled its annual CHW training and is integrating digital technologies into grassroots health delivery.
The three-day consultation, themed “Validation of the 2024 Community Health Landscape Survey,” gathered delegates from all 55 AU member states to shape a unified CHW Strategy, Scorecard, and Strategic Action Plan.
Africa CDC’s Director of Primary Health Care, Dr Landry Tsague, praised Nigeria’s reform as a model for Africa, citing the country’s commitment to domestic financing, community engagement, and governance. “Nigeria’s leadership provides a strong foundation for peer learning,” he said.
UNICEF’s Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Dr Rownak Khan, also applauded Nigeria’s drive, noting: “For every one dollar invested in community health, the return exceeds ten dollars.”
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Muyi Aina, announced that Nigeria plans to recruit and deploy 70,000 Community-Based Health Workers (CBHWs) by 2029. The plan aims to assign one CBHW per 250 households to reach over 160 million people.
So far, eight states have signed implementation agreements, with five already initiating recruitment and deployment.
The summit is expected to produce a continent-wide CHW scorecard and strategic roadmap in support of the AU’s 2030 target for resilient, people-centred primary health systems.
