Kigali, Rwanda – A quiet revolution took shape as leaders, policymakers, and healthcare experts converged for a transformative three-day international conference. Their singular mission: reshaping the future of community health in Africa.
At the forefront stood Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., Liberia’s Civil Service Agency Director-General and the inaugural Chairman of the Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HePSNA). As he took the podium, his words carried the weight of generations of Community Health Workers (CHWs)—dedicated individuals who have long served their communities without formal recognition or financial security.
“This meeting is not merely a continuation of past discussions,” Dr. Joekai declared. “It is a foundational step in operationalizing our shared vision for a coordinated, country-led approach to community health.”
For years, CHWs have been the backbone of Africa’s healthcare system, serving as first responders, trusted healers, and vital bridges between communities and formal medical institutions. Despite their essential roles, many have worked in informal conditions—underpaid, unrecognized, and lacking institutional support. That era is now ending.
Liberia, long a champion of CHW empowerment, took center stage as Dr. Joekai presented a landmark progress report, announcing the enrollment of 600 CHWs into the government’s centralized payroll system. This shift was not just a policy adjustment—it was a transformation of healthcare itself.
The conference, co-chaired by Dr. Joekai and Dr. Heleyesus Getahun, CEO of the Health Development Partnership for Africa and the Caribbean (HeDPAC), became a defining moment for Africa’s approach to community health governance. Ministers from across the region engaged in strategic debates, policymakers refined the Delivery Maturity Index, and civil service leaders tackled wage structuring intricacies to ensure CHWs received formal recognition and sustainable salaries.
The discussions in Kigali reflected the growing influence of the Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HePSNA)—a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering collaboration in health service delivery, governance, and public sector development.
Established in March 2025 following a historic four-day conference in Liberia, HePSNA has emerged as a continental hub for knowledge exchange, policy alignment, and capacity-building. Founding member states—including Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, and Liberia—remain committed to strengthening Africa’s health systems and regional partnerships.
As the Kigali conference concluded, the vision was clear: Africa was no longer merely discussing the role of CHWs—it was acting on it. The journey ahead remains challenging, but one truth is undeniable—change has begun, and it is unstoppable.
Dr. Joekai, in his role as Chairman of HePSNA and Director-General of the CSA, remains unwavering in his commitment to breaking barriers for CHWs across Africa, ensuring their formal recognition and improved working conditions.