Minister seeks payroll reforms to boost community health workforce

Dr Iziaq Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, has called on African governments to reform payroll systems and strengthen domestic financing to expand the community health workforce to two million by 2030. This proposal was made during a high-level ministerial gathering on community health in Abuja. The meeting, attended by African countries, continental institutions, and development partners, aimed to discuss strategies for improving community-based healthcare delivery.

Salako emphasized the need for concrete commitments on funding, payroll reforms, policy measures, and implementation plans. He outlined four key outcomes expected from the deliberations, including the development or updating of national community health plans within the next 12 to 18 months, improvements in financing, payroll systems, and policy implementation, as well as the endorsement of country roadmaps and continental priorities.

The initiative reflects the mandate of President Bola Tinubu and the collective commitment of continental institutions and development partners.