By: Julius Konton
In a significant step toward strengthening Africa’s healthcare systems and public sector institutions, nine African nations have pledged to accelerate reforms aimed at improving health workforce development, public service delivery, and community healthcare integration following the conclusion of the Third High-Level Meeting of the Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA) in Abidjan.
The two-day continental gathering brought together senior government officials, health experts, civil service leaders, development partners, and diplomats from across West and Central Africa to address one of the region’s most pressing development challenges: the shortage, retention, and effective management of healthcare workers.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr., Director-General of Liberia’s Civil Service Agency (CSA), who serves as Chairman of the Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA).
Participating countries included Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, The Gambia, and the Central African Republic, whose delegates collectively endorsed an ambitious action plan designed to modernize public service institutions while strengthening national health systems.
Africa’s Health Workforce Challenge
The commitments made in Abidjan come at a critical time for Africa’s health sector.
According to estimates from international health agencies, Africa bears approximately 24 percent of the global disease burden but is served by less than 4 percent of the world’s healthcare workforce.
The continent continues to face shortages of doctors, nurses, midwives, laboratory technicians, and community health workers, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Experts warn that without sustained investment in human resources for health, many African countries could struggle to achieve the health-related targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Recognizing these challenges, delegates committed themselves to reforms focused on:
Strengthening workforce planning and management systems;
Improving remuneration and retention of healthcare workers;
Expanding career advancement opportunities;
Institutionalizing community health workers within civil service structures;
Enhancing accountability and performance management systems;
Increasing investment in training, supervision, and professional development;
Strengthening primary healthcare delivery nationwide.
Progress and Persistent Challenges
During country presentations and technical exchanges, participants highlighted notable progress achieved over the past decade in expanding community health programs and improving access to primary healthcare services.
Several countries reported gains in maternal and child health outcomes, disease surveillance, vaccination coverage, and community-based healthcare interventions.
However, delegates acknowledged that significant barriers remain.
Among the most common challenges identified were:
Chronic underfunding of community health programs;
Severe shortages of trained healthcare personnel;
Weak human resource information systems;
Limited opportunities for career progression among frontline health workers;
Inadequate supervision and professional support;
Delays in integrating community health workers into formal government payroll systems;
Growing migration of skilled healthcare professionals to higher-income countries.
Participants agreed that addressing these issues requires stronger coordination between ministries responsible for health, public service, finance, and national planning.
Dr. Joekai Calls for Action Beyond Commitments
Delivering the summit’s closing statement, Dr. Joekai described the meeting as both productive and transformative, emphasizing the need to convert policy discussions into measurable improvements for citizens.
“I am pleased to report that our deliberations over the past two days have been highly productive, insightful, and action-oriented,” Dr. Joekai said.
“The meeting provided a unique platform for member states to evaluate the status of their community health workforce programs, primary healthcare systems, public service structures, and ongoing efforts to integrate community health workers and other frontline health personnel into national civil service systems.”
He disclosed that member states had agreed to intensify implementation of their respective national action plans and establish mechanisms to monitor progress and accountability.
According to Dr. Joekai, the success of Africa’s health systems depends not only on infrastructure and financing but also on building a motivated, professional, and adequately supported workforce.
“As Chairman of the Health and Public Service Network of Africa, I urge all member states to fully implement their national action plans, sustain the momentum generated during this meeting, and continue strengthening partnerships that advance human health, public service excellence, and sustainable development across our continent,” he stated.
Côte d’Ivoire Pushes for Broader Political Engagement
One of the summit’s most significant recommendations came from Pierre N’Gou Dimba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage.
Minister Dimba proposed that future HaPSNA meetings formally include both Ministers of Health and Ministers responsible for Public Service from participating countries, arguing that effective workforce reforms require high-level political coordination across sectors.
The proposal received strong support from delegates and will be incorporated into preparations for the Fourth Sitting of HaPSNA, scheduled for the first week of March 2027.
Minister Dimba further reaffirmed Côte d’Ivoire’s commitment to implementing policy reforms emerging from the summit and pledged continued support for regional collaboration.
Campaign for ECOWAS Recognition Gains Momentum
In a development that could significantly elevate HaPSNA’s influence across the region, Minister Dimba reiterated a commitment previously made by Côte d’Ivoire’s Prime Minister, Robert Beugré Mambé, to champion the integration of HaPSNA into the institutional framework of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Observers say such recognition could strengthen regional coordination on workforce planning, policy harmonization, public service reforms, and health sector development throughout West Africa.
If successful, the initiative could position HaPSNA as a leading regional platform for addressing healthcare workforce shortages and strengthening public administration systems.
Liberia Emerging as a Regional Reform Leader
Liberia’s delegation included Roland D. Kallon, Edleen Tasha Clark of the Civil Service Agency, and Dr. Wiyata Tamara Diggs Koker of the Ministry of Health.
The country’s active leadership role at the summit reflects ongoing efforts by the Liberian government to modernize public sector management, strengthen healthcare delivery, and improve workforce governance following years of post-conflict reconstruction and health sector reforms.
Liberia’s experience in community health programming, particularly after the 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic, has increasingly been cited as a model for integrating community-based healthcare approaches into national health strategies.
A Continental Vision for African-Led Solutions
As the meeting concluded, delegates underscored the importance of African-led solutions to Africa’s development challenges.
Dr. Joekai highlighted the growing collaboration among HaPSNA, the Health Development Partnership for Africa Consortium (HeDPAC), and participating governments as evidence that sustainable progress can be achieved through regional cooperation and shared leadership.
“The future of Africa’s health and public service sectors lies in our ability to collaborate, innovate, and invest in our people,” one delegate noted during the closing discussions.
With healthcare workforce shortages continuing to threaten service delivery across much of the continent, the commitments made in Abidjan are expected to serve as a roadmap for stronger public institutions, more resilient health systems, and improved outcomes for millions of Africans.
The Third High-Level Meeting of the Health and Public Service Network of Africa was attended by senior government officials, development partners, representatives of international organizations, private-sector stakeholders, and members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Côte d’Ivoire, underscoring growing international support for Africa’s efforts to strengthen governance and healthcare delivery systems.
