Community Health Practitioners And Poor Welfarism in The Health Industry

 


As a Community Health Practitioner in Nigeria, the profession could really set you up for embarrassment you never signed up for. Everyone assumes healthcare workers should earn decently because of the importance of their work. Yet, in reality, the average pay of many Community Health Practitioners, especially outside major cities, is not only discouraging but in many cases falls below the minimum wage, despite the enormous responsibility of safeguarding community health.


It is not unusual to see Community Health Practitioners earning stipends of ₦15,000 – ₦50,000 monthly in state or LGA employment, particularly in the first few years after qualification. Fact-check me. I dare say that a large proportion of CHPs in Nigeria earn less than ₦100,000 even after 5 years of practice.


In urban centres, the situation is slightly better, but far from encouraging. Many Junior Community Health Extension Workers (JCHEWs),  Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs), and even Community Health Officers (CHOs) are often paid in ranges that do not reflect their workload. Meanwhile, the public still assumes that “because you work in health, you should be earning big.” Nothing could be farther from the truth.


So imagine the irony—your neighbour expects you to be earning hundreds of thousands like other medical and allied health professionals, but in reality, your take-home pay can barely take you home. You are the one diagnosing malaria, managing pregnancies at the community level, conducting immunisations, leading health campaigns, and sometimes working as the only healthcare provider in a rural facility—yet your monthly salary is less than what many private security guards earn in the city.


This is where the deception lies: society demands noble service but offers miserable welfare.


The situation is further complicated by lack of proper structures in rural health facilities, irregular salary payments by some local governments, and in some cases, outright exploitation in private clinics where Community Health Practitioners are employed. To survive, many Community Health Practitioners take extra jobs, do locums, or sell items on the side. This reduces focus on their professional work, thereby lowering the overall quality of primary healthcare delivery.


We shall suggest possible solutions to the above identified challenge in subsequent post.


®Ahmed Salim Jn ✍️ RCHP 

#Uloko

Comments

  1. Anonymous2 October 2025 at 01:10

    I just hope that our board looks into this serious condition.. though..God will help us insha'Allah

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahmed Salim Jn2 October 2025 at 03:13

      The Board is aware, they're trying but they need to do more

      Delete
  2. Kogi young politicians2 October 2025 at 03:40

    My brother and my love....
    God bless you for this essential point highlights by you.
    I think our board need to involve in politics so that they voice can be hear in all challenge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahmed Salim Jn2 October 2025 at 08:30

      Smiles, we shall be making suggestions in our next column

      Delete

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