Advancing Community Health in Nigeria: Bridging Research Gaps for Sustainable Development

 



The Community Health Profession is significantly advancing in quality of training and skills. There's also a marked advancement in the professional and academic qualifications. There has been a continuous positive evolution in the program; from the days of Rural Aids, Community Health Assistants, Community Health Supervisors etc, now to the proposed ND/HND in community health Sciences(We'll talk more on this in a future article). With the commencement of the Bachelor of Community Health Science (BCHS) in our Universities, it is only natural that in a few decade, we should have Masters and PhD holders in this profession. A time will come we shall also have Professors who majors in different fields of the Community Health Science. 

We are improving, no doubts, but there asr  some issues that needs attention, we mentioned a few in our previous articles Read : https://ahmedsalim17.blogspot.com/2025/05/challenges-faced-by-community-health.html

However, studies on community health practitioners and public health promotion offered valuable insights and reviews critical limitations requiring further research attention. A notable limitation is the limited focus on longitudinal studies that assess the sustained impact of community health interventions over time. Many studies are cross-sectional or short-term, lacking the necessary long-term follow-up to evaluate sustained behavior change and health outcomes accurately. Longitudinal studies are essential to understanding the lasting effects of interventions and their implications for improving health outcomes in communities over extended periods.

Another significant limitation is the need for more rigorous and meticulous evaluations of community engagement initiatives and their contributions to national development goals. Despite the emphasis on community participation in various programs, there is a lack of comprehensive evaluations that measure the social, economic, and health impacts of these initiatives at both the community and national levels. Robust evaluations are crucial to determine the effectiveness and scalability of community engagement strategies, ensuring that they contribute meaningfully to broader development objectives while addressing local health needs efficiently. Closing these gaps through rigorous research, comprehensive evaluations, and scalability assessments will strengthen evidence-based practice and policy development in community health and national development efforts in Nigeria.

In conclusion, bridging research gaps in community health is crucial for Nigeria's development. By prioritizing longitudinal studies and comprehensive evaluations, we can strengthen evidence-based practice, inform policy, and ultimately improve health outcomes. Let's work together to advance community health research and create a healthier future for Nigeria's communities.

®Ahmed Salim Jn ✍️ RCHP 

#Uloko




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