Task Shifting and Task Sharing Policy for Essential Health Care Services in Nigeria
Policy · Health
A Policy authorizes the shifting of specific health tasks from higher to lower-cadre workers to improve access to essential services in underserved areas. It targets community health workers, nurse-midwives, and health supervisors facing shortages. This increases the availability of quality health care across Nigeria.
Task Shifting and Task Sharing Policy for Essential Health Care Services in Nigeria
What Is This Policy?
A policy that authorizes the delegation of specific clinical tasks from higher-cadre health professionals to trained lower-cadre health workers, enabling expanded access to essential health services particularly in underserved areas with critical health worker shortages.
Who Does It Target?
Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) and Community Health Officers Nurse-midwives taking on expanded roles Health facility supervisors overseeing task-shifted services State and LGA health management teams
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Increase access to essential health services in areas with severe health worker shortages by safely reassigning specific tasks to competent lower-cadre health workers under defined training, supervision, and quality assurance conditions.
Key Features
Approved Task Transfers: Specific clinical tasks authorized for transfer, including contraceptive implant insertion, HIV testing, and basic emergency obstetric care Training Requirements: Competency-based training programmes required before task-shifted services can be provided Supervision Standards: Structured mentoring and supervisory protocols for task-shifted workers Quality Assurance: Performance monitoring and clinical audit requirements Regulatory Alignment: Adjustments to professional practice regulations to legally authorize expanded roles
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Active in states implementing primary healthcare expansion Coverage: Primary healthcare facilities, particularly in rural and underserved areas Lead Agency: Federal Ministry of Health Partners: WHO, USAID, UNFPA, professional regulatory councils
How to Access
The policy is implemented through state-level health programmes and training initiatives. State health authorities identify facilities and workers for task-shifting Workers undergo competency-based training and certification Supervision and mentoring are provided on an ongoing basis
Official Resources
Website: health.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja
Legal Framework
Operates under the National Health Act 2014, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria Act, the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board Act, and the National Human Resources for Health Policy. Draws on WHO guidelines on task shifting (Health Workforce 2030) and the Kampala Declaration on Human Resources for Health.