From Maiharaji Altine Salah
A five-day refresher course for health workers organized by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) has commenced in Zamfara state with over 100 participants in attendance.
This was part of the federal government’s efforts to train 120,000 frontline health workers in integrated service delivery this year.
Addressing the participants in Gusau during the occasion on Monday, the National facilitator of the program, Ahmed Chiroma said, the aim of the training was to strengthen the capacity of frontline health workers working in publicly-owned primary health care facilities to provide quality health services and improve health outcomes in Nigeria.
Chiroma explained that, lack of appropriate skills and competencies at the frontline facilities contributed significantly to poor health outcomes.
He maintained that, to reverse this ugly trend, the Honorable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pati has introduced the Renewed Health Sector Vision 2023 – 2026 and launched the National Health Sector Reviewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
He said, “In line with this, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) adopted some strategies to ensure that every Nigerian has equitable access to quality Primary Health Care services”.
‘One of the strategies is to upskill 120,000 frontline Health Workers in integrated service delivery in 2024″.
“The goal is to establish a sustainable framework for Primary Health Care workforce development, training and retention”.
Chiroma further explained that, the refresher training programme would focus on critical service areas that would accelerate improvement in country health outcomes.
According to him, the training would also enhance quality service delivery in primary health care facilities.
He lamented that, 38 years after the launching of PHCDA in the country, not much was achieved.
He said, “Unfortunately, 38 years after the launching of Primary Health Care in Nigeria, it has not achieved the desire goals”.
Also speaking, the Zamfara state Director disease control and immunization, Almustafa Aliyu said the priority areas of the training were on HIV/AID, Tuberculosis, leprosy and other diseases.
The participants of the refresher course included medical workers, Doctors, Nurses, midwives, community health workers and health institutions in the state.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary Zamfara State Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr. Hussaini Yakubu Anka has applauded the efforts of Minister of Health Dr. Ali Pate as he plans to reform the health sector in the country especially Primary Healthcare.
Dr. Anka said the primary health care as the most important health sector needed to be reformed, revived and taken care of as it existed in all nooks and crannies of every society.
He emphasised that the Minister in his wisdom believed in reforming the activities of primary healthcare because the highest number of population patronized primary healthcare.
The Executive secretary also urged the participants to pay attention to what they would be taught, reminding them that they were cascading what they would learn down to the 14 government areas in the state.
In his remarks, the zonal coordinator, Dr. Kabiru Mohammed who was represented by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency Zamfara State Coordinator, Musa Shehu called on the participants to be very attentive during the training.
