China’s healthcare sector faces a major challenge of an acute shortage of nurses and midwives, with only 2.73 nurses and midwives per 1,000 people. In pediatrics, the problem is especially critical, with only 0.15 pediatric nurses per 1,000 children. China has made significant progress in reducing infant and maternal mortality rates over the years. However, the under-five mortality rate in China is still relatively high, with birth asphyxia as one of the leading causes of preventable neonatal death. There are also disparities in child mortality rates between urban and rural areas, and among eastern, central and western regions of China.

CHWI approach for China aims to:

• Reduce the health worker coverage gap by increasing the number of nurses, midwives and community health workers, along with expanding the reach of the existing workforce.
• Enhance the quality of care by working with our partners to improve the capacity and skills of nurses, midwives and community health workers.
• Strengthen primary and community-based health systems by fortifying the role of community health workers in community-based care to reduce the burden on secondary and tertiary health systems.

Partners in China include:

• China Primary Health Care Foundation (CPHCF) 
• UNICEF 
• Fred Hollows Foundation  
• International Health Exchange and Cooperation Center of National Health Commission, PRC 
• China Nursing Association