Vice President Kashim Shettima launched the Community Health Programme Continental Acceleration Plan 2026–2030 in Abuja, aiming to strengthen primary healthcare delivery across Africa. The plan targets 100,000 salaried community health workers in Nigeria by 2027. Shettima emphasized the importance of community health workers enjoying legal recognition, reliable salaries, professional certification, and clear career progression to deliver effective healthcare services.
The Community Health Programme Continental Acceleration Plan 2026–2030 is designed to address critical gaps in community healthcare across Africa. The plan focuses on improved governance, workforce development, sustainable financing, digital systems, medical supplies, and accountability. According to Shettima, the distance between a household and a health worker can determine the difference between survival and death, stressing the need for accessible healthcare.
President Bola Tinubu's Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative has secured over $2.2 billion in commitments to revitalize over 17,000 primary healthcare centers and train 120,000 frontline health workers. Shettima stated that Nigeria's goal is to have 100,000 salaried community health workers by 2027. He warned that shrinking external health financing poses a major threat to community healthcare across Africa.
The continent's new acceleration plan requires about $28 billion through 2030, with over 80% of the funding allocated to recurrent expenditure. The investment is projected to generate $19 in economic and social benefits for every dollar spent, provided countries sustain funding and implement the program effectively. Shettima emphasized that every country must commit to one nationally owned plan, one budget, and one monitoring framework.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, stated that Nigeria is committed to the African Union's target of deploying two million community health workers across the continent by 2030. The plan aligns with the Tinubu administration's Renewed Hope Agenda, prioritizing strengthening disease surveillance, primary healthcare delivery, and community resilience.
Deputy Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Raji Tajudeen, noted that Africa is falling behind the two-million-worker target adopted by African leaders in 2016, with only about half of the target achieved. He attributed the shortfall to recurring infectious disease outbreaks, declining international development assistance for health, and inadequate operational readiness of primary healthcare facilities.
The launch of the Community Health Programme Continental Acceleration Plan 2026–2030 highlights the importance of strengthening primary healthcare systems and empowering community health workers. Egypt's Deputy Minister of Health for Population and Family Development, Dr. Abla Al-Alfi, stressed the importance of improving maternal and family health outcomes. The plan aims to address critical gaps in community healthcare across Africa and ensure accessible healthcare for all.
Key points
- Nigeria targets 100,000 salaried community health workers by 2027.
- The Community Health Programme Continental Acceleration Plan 2026–2030 requires about $28 billion through 2030.
- Africa aims to deploy two million community health workers across the continent by 2030.
