The attention of Concerned Community Health Practitioners and Advocates for PHC in Nigeria has been drawn by the general public, to a reckless statement released by “Elegant Nurses Forum”. Drawing the attention of relevant authorities, and the international community to this politically sponsored, and grossly misleading statement issued under the banner of the Elegant Nurses Forum. We wish to State that; the statement not only disrespects the hard-earned reputation of Community Health Practitioners (CHPs) but also attempts to undermine the remarkable achievements of His Excellency, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Governor of Kwara State, in the Primary Health Care sector between 2019–2025.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GOVERNOR ABDULRAHMAN ABDULRAZAQ’S ACHIEVEMENTS
We recognize and commend the visionary leadership of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq through the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KPHCDA), under which the following achievements were recorded:
1. Renovation and upgrading of PHC facilities across the state.
A remarkable project carried out with the frontline support of Community Health Practitioners who live and work within the grassroots communities.
2. Recruitment and deployment of health workers.
An applaudable step that resulted in equity and access, reflecting the critical roles of CHPs as the first point of care and critical referral agents in the state.
3. Implementation of Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR)
This approach strengthened PHC services and the competence of CHPs on our statutory mandate in coordinating service delivery at the PHC level.
4. Community-based health insurance and maternal/child health initiative
A policy strategy designed and implemented effectively because of the proximity and trusted role of CHPs within households across the underserved communities in the state.
5. Strengthening routine immunization, disease surveillance, and health education
A national policy which depend heavily on the technical expertise and outreach of JCHEWs, CHEWs, and CHOs across the tiers of Health system.
These achievements would have been impossible without the governor’s confidence in the competence and commitment of Community Health Practitioners; *the chief custodians of PHC delivery in Nigeria*.
ON THE FALSE CLAIMS AGAINST COMMUNITY HEALTH PRACTITIONERS
The insinuation that Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) and Community Health Officers (CHOs) are “legalized quacks” is a calculated attempt to insult the Nigerian Health System and discredit one of its most recognized cadres of health professionals.
1. Global Recognition of Community Health Workers:
The World Health Organization (WHO) in its 2018 guideline on health policy and system support for optimizing community health worker programmes, explicitly recognizes community health workers as a vital component of integrated health systems.
Countries like Ethiopia (Health Extension Workers), Pakistan (Lady Health Workers), Brazil (Agentes Comunitários de Saúde), and India (ASHAs – Accredited Social Health Activists) have successfully institutionalized CHPs as a cornerstone of PHC, with measurable impacts on maternal, neonatal, and child health outcomes.
Nigeria’s cadre of Community Health Practitioners (JCHEW, CHEW, CHO) was developed under the National Standing Orders, PHC Guidelines, and Task Shifting & Sharing Policy (2014); all backed by the Federal Ministry of Health and the NPHCDA.
2. Legitimacy of CHPs in Nigeria:
Community Health Practitioners are licensed under the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN), established by Act CAP C19, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Our training curriculum, aligned with National Universities Commission (NUC) and NBTE standards, which equips Community Health Practitioners for clinical, preventive, and managerial duties in PHC services.
3. Professional Hierarchy & Collaboration:
At the Primary Health Care level, CHPs are the statutory custodians and coordinators of services, while Nurses and Midwives are complementary professionals. This arrangement is not a “disrespect” to Nursing, but a functional model that ensures service delivery in underserved and vulnerable communities including hard to reach areas where doctors and nurses are often unavailable.
WARNING AGAINST POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INCITEMENT
We caution the so-called “Elegant Nurses Forum” and its spokesperson, Nurse Thomas Abiodun Olamide, against making unverified, divisive, and politically motivated statements that undermine public confidence in the health sector. Such utterances are not only harmful to inter-professional harmony but also injurious to the collective efforts toward Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria.
OUR POSITION
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq deserves commendation, not baseless attacks, for his investment and trust in Primary Health Care.
Community Health Practitioners remain the legitimate custodians of PHC delivery in Nigeria and our members uphold with value; the public service rules with all sense of discipline, patriotism and sincere commitment to healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Our openness to collaboration, mutual respect, and adherence to professional guidelines remain key to advancing Nigeria’s health system.
Nigeria cannot afford to politicize health care delivery. While Nurses are indispensable professionals with global recognition, Community Health Practitioners equally hold a statutory mandate in Nigeria and are globally referenced in WHO guidelines as essential health workers.
We condemned any attack on the legitimacy of the laws of the federation of Nigeria.
We respectfully caution against any attempt to pit one group against another because it is dangerous, unpatriotic, and must be rejected by all well-meaning Nigerians.
Signed:
Concerned Community Health Practitioners and Advocates for PHC in Nigeria
It’s unacceptable for nurses to blackmail or intimidate community health practitioners. Such behavior can, undermine collaboration and teamwork. It is time to promote a culture of respect, empathy, and collaboration!
This is an impressive release. Up federal government, Up community Health.
Excellent