Africa CDC targets 2 million community health workers by 2030

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has unveiled its Continental Acceleration Plan for Community Health Programmes (2026–2030). The initiative aims to deploy two million community health workers (CHWs) across the continent by 2030 to bolster health security and disease surveillance.

Dr. Landry Dongmo-Tsague, Director of Primary Health Care at Africa CDC, projected that every dollar invested in community health could generate 19 dollars in economic and societal benefits. This could result in approximately 569 billion dollars in modeled benefits through averted illnesses and reduced pressure on formal health facilities.

At a high-level forum in Abuja, Nigeria, hosted by the Nigerian government in collaboration with Africa CDC and UNICEF, stakeholders emphasized that Africa’s health sovereignty depends on recognizing, paying, and planning for this workforce. Officials noted that approximately 80 percent of health conditions occur at the community level and can be managed by CHWs, who serve as the first point of disease detection and support essential services like immunization and maternal care.