TY - JOUR T1 - Mind the Global Community Health Funding Gap JF - Global Health: Science and Practice JO - GLOB HEALTH SCI PRACT SP - S9 LP - S17 DO - 10.9745/GHSP-D-20-00517 VL - 9 IS - Supplement 1 AU - Angela Gichaga AU - Lizah Masis AU - Amit Chandra AU - Dan Palazuelos AU - Nelly Wakaba Y1 - 2021/03/15 UR - http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/9/Supplement_1/S9.abstract N2 - Key MessagesCommunity health workers (CHWs) play a critical role in bridging the huge human resources for health gap while providing both essential health services and pandemic response.The case for investment is strong but funding for this sector is limited and fragmented. The current funding gap for at scale CHW program in sub-Saharan Africa has increased from an estimated US$3.1 billion to US$5.4 billion annually but is still cost effective as the cost per capita remains low (US$1.50–US$13.00).To close this funding gap, political prioritization, supportive policies, programs designed to deliver, and reducing fragmentation of existing resources will be critical.Governments can achieve universal health coverage targets by building community health systems that are people centered and quality oriented.Funders should also take a systems approach and focus their investments toward building resilient and sustainable platforms of delivery.The value of community health workers (CHWs) cannot be overstated: they provide basic health care and health promotion within the communities they live.1 In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which has a gross shortage of health care workers of only 5 health professionals per 10,000 population—compared to a global threshold of 23 per 10,000— CHWs are part of the solution through task sharing2 and an increase in scope of work.1 Aditionally, during the recent Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa and the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, CHWs played a critical role in mobilizing communities, finding active cases, and filling health service gaps.3Existing evidence posits that CHW programs are a high-value investment in health as the annual cost per capita served is comparatively low.1 Additionally, expanded access to key interventions by CHWs could avert up to 3 million deaths annually.4 One analysis demonstrated a 10:1 economic return on investment from community health systems in SSA.4 This … ER -