Nigeria has hosted the launch of the Community Health Programme Continental Acceleration Plan 2026–2030, which aims to employ 2 million community health workers across Africa by 2030. Vice President Kashim Shettima launched the plan on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, the African Union Champion for Human Resources for Health, according to the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
Key numbers
- 51 African countries and more than 30 partners are involved.
- 2 million community health workers is the 2030 target, building on a 2017 African Union commitment that has been reached by just over half.
- Africa CDC estimates US$4.3 billion a year is needed to reach the target.
- Each US$1 invested is projected to return up to US$19 in economic and social benefits.
- Nigeria needs about 315,000 community health workers by 2030.
Nigeria’s plans by the end of 2028
Under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the government says it will:
- Revitalise more than 17,000 primary health care centres
- Train 120,000 frontline health workers
- Employ 100,000 salaried community health workers
What the Vice President called for
- Legal recognition of community health workers
- Reliable pay and adequate support
- Equitable deployment, especially to underserved areas
- Stronger domestic financing, with dedicated budgets and monitoring
What it means for nurses and midwives
Community health workers extend care into homes and villages, but they depend on nurses and midwives for supervision, training and referral. Expanding the workforce could create roles for nurses as trainers, supervisors and PHC managers. The challenge will be funding: many community health workers in Africa still work unpaid or on short-term contracts.
Frequently asked questions
Who are community health workers?
Trained health workers who deliver basic services in communities, such as health education, immunisation follow-up, malaria testing, family planning and referrals. In Nigeria, this includes Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs).
Are nurses community health workers?
Nurses work in primary health care but are a separate profession. They often supervise and train community health workers.
Related reading: WHO health workforce report 2026 · Community health nursing essentials
Source: Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.