The Anambra State Government plans to recruit 250 additional health workers to strengthen primary healthcare delivery.

The move comes amid concerns over staff absenteeism and poor commitment in public facilities. The recruitment will comprise 200 Community Health Extension Workers and 50 midwives.

The disclosure was made by Dr Chizoba Ezeasor, Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency. She spoke in Awka on Thursday during a capacity building programme for Ward Development Committees and Officers in Charge of primary healthcare centres.

The programme focused on maternal and child health system strengthening.

Ezeasor said the recruitment will prioritise qualified and committed professionals willing to reside in the communities where they will be deployed. She said employing workers from their communities will promote accessibility and accountability. It will also ensure personnel remain available to residents.

She warned against political considerations in the selection process, insisting that only competent professionals genuinely prepared to serve should be engaged. She said the state needs workers who are committed to duty.

She also expressed concern over reports that some Officers in Charge were not consistently available at their duty posts. She called for greater discipline and commitment among health workers. She said performance should be judged by quality of service and patient experience, not just facilities built.

The programme was organised by Justice, Development and Peace Caritas, Nnewi, under the SPARK II project. It was supported by the International Budget Partnership. It also seeks to create a functional feedback channel linking communities, health workers and the agency.