By AGATHA N UJU, Correspondent, Abuja
Africa’s community health access is about to witness some expansion as leaders from 51 countries on the continent discuss health acceleration plans.This was unveiled in Abuja, Nigeria Nigeria during the official launch of the Community Health Programme Continental Acceleration Plan 2026–2030, a continental initiative bringing together 51 African countries and more than 30 partners towards the employment of two million community health workers across Africa by 2030.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, formally launched the Plan, which seeks to strengthen primary healthcare delivery, expand access to essential health services and build resilient community health systems across the continent. President Tinubu serves as African Union Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership.
Speaking at the event, the Vice President, stressed that community health workers are indispensable to achieving universal health coverage, noting their critical roles in identifying maternal health risks, reaching unvaccinated children, gathering household health data and detecting disease outbreaks.
He called for their legal recognition, reliable remuneration, adequate support and equitable deployment, emphasising that the sustainability of primary healthcare depends on a properly supported community workforce.
He noted that Nigeria requires an estimated 315,000 community health workers by 2030 and highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to closing the shortfall through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, including plans to revitalise over 17,000 primary healthcare centres, train 120,000 frontline health workers and employ 100,000 salaried community health workers by the end of 2028.
He further emphasised the need for African countries to strengthen domestic financing, noting the continent’s continued dependence on external funding for community health programmes. He called for nationally owned implementation plans, dedicated budgets and effective monitoring frameworks to ensure that commitments translate into measurable results.
Providing the continental perspective, Africa CDC highlighted that the two-million-worker ambition builds on the 2017 African Union commitment, which has so far been reached by just over half, underscoring the need for stronger implementation and sustainable financing.
The agency estimated that Africa requires US$4.3 billion annually to achieve the target, with every US$1 invested projected to generate up to US$19 in economic and social benefits. Nigeria’s commitment to employing 100,000 salaried community health workers was highlighted as an important contribution to the continental ambition.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, commended President Tinubu’s approval to host the high-level forum, describing the initiative as significant to strengthening community health systems and advancing primary healthcare delivery across Africa.
Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S., reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening primary healthcare and the community health workforce in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
In a vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary acknowledged the leadership of President Tinubu as African Union Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership, alongside the contributions of the African Union Commission, Africa CDC, development partners and other stakeholders.
She stressed that sustained investment, effective partnerships and coordinated implementation would be critical to translating the Plan’s ambitions into improved health outcomes.
This is contained in a statement by the Asst. Director Information and Public Relations Ado Bako, and made available to The First Mail.
