Launched in October 2024, the project provided training on advocacy, social protection, and public health leadership. CHWs then led community outreach, engaged local councils, and hosted a powerful town hall highlighting their challenges. Their efforts gained local government support and a promise of future collaboration. This initiative marks a shift toward health justice and decent work for CHWs and their communities.

“We are not just the backbone of the health system, we are its heartbeat.” This was the resounding message as Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Kano State, Nigeria, gathered in a powerful show of solidarity and strength to begin their journey of advocacy and community engagement.

Though CHWs are widely recognized as the lifeline of public health, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities, they have long been sidelined in policymaking and excluded from meaningful participation. In Nigeria, most CHWs are women, operating in challenging environments with little recognition, support, or formal protections.

But the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) wants to change this narrative. With the support of FNV and PSI, the union is helping CHWs in Kano State use their voices to assert their rights and step confidently into leadership roles.

Building Power from the Ground Up

The project officially launched in Kano on October 16, 2024, bringing together national and state leaders of MHWUN, CHW representatives from across the state’s Local Government Areas and allies including the NGO Citizens Free Services Forum. This was followed by a two-day capacity-building workshop for 23 CHW leaders—focused on worker rights, social protection, and the role of CHWs in health system strengthening.

The energy only grew during a second round of intensive training and community outreach activities held from November 28 to 30, 2024. With 37 CHW leaders participating, the sessions focused on key themes: advocacy for quality public services, collective bargaining, political and social determinants of health, and campaign strategies for community engagement.

Participants not only gained knowledge, they gained confidence and a shared vision. Together, they developed community engagement plans aimed at mobilizing support for better health sector infrastructure, improved working conditions, stronger supply chains, and increased health budgets.

From Training Room to Town Hall

The outreach phase kicked off with a formal visit to the Tarauni Local Government Council, where CHWs outlined their vision and called for closer collaboration. The response was encouraging: council officials welcomed the initiative, committed to engaging with the union, and pledged representation in future health discussions.

The real highlight came during a town hall meeting attended by 83 community members, where CHWs spoke candidly about the challenges they face—shortages of essential drugs and PPE, lack of infrastructure, understaffing, poor pay, and limited career progression. Their honesty struck a chord, especially with local women who shared firsthand accounts of how systemic failures impact both workers and patients.

Civil society groups rallied to the cause, joining the call for urgent government action. In a significant win, local authorities promised to involve CHWs and their union in council meetings moving forward, an important step toward formal recognition and inclusive policy dialogue.

A Vision of Health Justice and Decent Work

This is just the beginning. The project is helping CHWs transform from isolated workers into organized, empowered agents of change. By building their capacity to advocate for decent work and quality public healthcare, CHWs are not only improving their own conditions—they’re laying the foundation for healthier, more equitable communities.