International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health | January 2024 | Vol 11 | Issue 1 Page 560 International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health Dotimi DA et al. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2024 Jan;11(1):560-565 http://www.ijcmph.com pISSN 2394-6032 | eISSN 2394-6040 Review Article Community health practice: the Nigerian model Doris Atibinye Dotimi 1 *, Yohanna Wamanyi 2 , Joel Usen Silas 3 INTRODUCTION The Nigerian model of community health practice focuses on improving the health and well-being of communities through a comprehensive and participatory approach. It recognizes the importance of community involvement in healthcare decision-making and emphasizes the empowerment of individuals and communities to take control of their own health. 1 Community health practice refers to the provision of health care services, aimed at early diagnosis of disease, recognition of environmental and occupational hazards to good health, and prevention of disease in the community. 2 The Community is seen as the hub of Community Health Practice. It is the essential laboratory for the practice of teaching, training, and research in the subject of community health. One key aspect of the Nigerian model is the use of community health practitioners (CHPs) who are trained and licensed to provide basic healthcare services and address the specific health needs of the communities at the primary health centers and community levels. 1 A Community Health Practitioner is a specially trained health professional who provides promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative health services to the people where they live and work. 3 They serve as a bridge between the healthcare system and the community, providing education, preventive services, assisting in birthing, care for the newborn, immunization of the ABSTRACT The Nigerian model of community health practice is a unique approach to healthcare delivery that emphasizes the involvement of community members in the planning and implementation of healthcare services. This model is based on the principle that healthcare should be accessible, affordable, and equitable for all members of the community. This review focused on the Nigerian model of community health practice yesterday, today, and in the future. Findings indicated that the Nigerian model of community health practice was established in 1978 and is characterized by the use of community health practitioners who have acquired National Diplomas, Higher National Diploma, Bachelor, Master and Ph.D. degrees in Community Health. They are licensed by the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria to provide basic healthcare services such as health education, preventive care, treatment of common illnesses, maternal and child health services, and family planning at primary health centers and community levels. While the model of community health practice has faced significant challenges, including inadequate funding, lack of infrastructure, and a shortage of trained personnel, it has demonstrated promising results in improving healthcare access and outcomes in rural communities. The Nigerian Model of community health practice holds important lessons for other countries seeking to strengthen their primary healthcare systems. Keywords: Nigeria, Community health practitioners, Community health practice, Primary health care, CHEW, JCHEW, CHO 1 Department of Community Health Science, Bayelsa Medical University, Yenagoa, Nigeria 2 Department of Community Health Science, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Nigeria 3 Department of Community Health Science, Wesley University, Ondo, Nigeria Received: 27 October 2023 Revised: 16 December 2023 Accepted: 19 December 2023 *Correspondence: Doris Atibinye Dotimi, E-mail: dorisdotimi13@gmail.com Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20234157