…as Minister Declares War on Health Inequality
By Joy Odor Abuja
Nigeria has thrown its full weight behind the African Union’s bold initiative to deploy 2 million Community Health Workers (CHWs) across the continent, a move hailed as a game-changer for primary healthcare and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Africa.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, delivered a forceful message at the 2nd African CDC Taskforce Meeting of the Community Health Continental Coordination Mechanism (CCM) held at UNICEF Headquarters, New York.
Dr. Salako, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the AU Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership, reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to institutionalizing CHWs as the frontline force of healthcare delivery across Africa.
“The future of Africa’s health systems will be built from the ground up, and CHWs are our foundation,” Salako declared, warning that without community-level health investment, the continent risks falling short of its health security goals.
The Minister recalled the 2017 African Union Assembly decision that tasked member states with recruiting and integrating CHWs as a priority.
He highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in hosting the August 2025 validation of the CHW Landscape Survey, a pivotal moment in shaping a strategic CHW framework endorsed by multiple AU member states.
“This isn’t just a policy talk, we’re moving fast from strategy to action,” Salako said, referring to the “Shaping the CHW Strategy, Scorecard and Strategic Action” document now fueling high-level dialogue continent-wide.
Salako issued a clarion call to expand training institutions, professionalize CHWs, and create clear career progression pathways to retain and empower frontline workers.
“Investing in CHWs is not a charity, it’s smart public health. It’s about maternal survival, child health, early detection, and resilience against future pandemics,” he said.
He also lauded the African Union Commission, Africa CDC, UNICEF, and other development partners for their strategic support, but made it clear that Africa’s health transformation depends on converting promises into tangible progress.
“Let us match ambition with action. The real measure of success will be healthier communities, reduced inequality, and systems that don’t break under pressure.”
Echoing President Tinubu’s vision, Salako called for stronger collaboration across governments, donors, and health institutions to embed CHWs as an indispensable pillar of national health architecture.
“There is no Universal Health Coverage without universal community health,” he said.
Nigeria’s resounding endorsement of the AU’s CHW initiative signals a paradigm shift in health policy where community-based solutions are finally taking center stage.
If fully implemented, this could be Africa’s most ambitious health workforce revolution in decades.
