NPHCDA Approves Recruitment of 2,440 Community Health Workers for Sokoto State, Strengthening Grassroots Healthcare Delivery

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), in partnership with the Sokoto State Government (SOSG), has approved the recruitment of 2,440 Community Health Workers (CHWs) to boost healthcare service delivery across Sokoto State. The new workers will be deployed to all 244 wards, marking one of the largest coordinated efforts to expand primary healthcare manpower in the state.

According to the Sokoto State Government, the initiative is a direct outcome of the strengthened collaboration between the NPHCDA and the state administration. The newly recruited CHWs will be posted to Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) throughout the state, where they will play essential roles in improving access to routine and emergency medical services at the grassroots level.

The workers will provide key services such as maternal and child healthcare, routine immunization support, community outreach, disease prevention, health education, and surveillance activities. Their presence in every ward is expected to close important gaps in service delivery, especially in remote and underserved communities where access to healthcare has been limited.

State officials explained that many PHCs in Sokoto have been overstretched for years due to workforce shortages. With the approval and deployment of these 2,440 CHWs, the government expects a significant reduction in the workload of existing staff, improved patient care, and faster response to health needs at the community level. The initiative also aligns with national efforts to reposition primary healthcare as the foundation of the Nigerian health system.

The Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, has emphasized that the recruitment exercise is not only a health-sector intervention but also part of his administration’s broader plan to tackle unemployment and empower citizens. By absorbing thousands of new workers into the health sector, the government hopes to provide meaningful job opportunities, stimulate economic activity, and improve the livelihoods of families across the state.

The state government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the new recruits with proper training and orientation to ensure they are equipped with modern skills and knowledge. The training will be organized jointly by the NPHCDA and the Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Board. After training, the workers will be posted to their designated wards and health centres to immediately begin strengthening healthcare delivery systems.

Public health analysts have described the development as a milestone for Sokoto State, noting that a strengthened primary healthcare workforce will play a key role in improving maternal and child health outcomes, expanding immunization coverage, and enhancing disease monitoring and outbreak response. The deployment also positions Sokoto to better achieve national and global health targets.

With preparations for deployment underway, residents of Sokoto State can look forward to more reliable, accessible, and community-centered healthcare services. The recruitment reflects a renewed commitment by both the federal and state governments to ensure that quality healthcare reaches every household, no matter how remote the location.