This was revealed by the National facilitator of the program, Ahmed Chiroma, during a five-day training of trainers workshop for Frontline Health Workers in Zamfara state on clinical competencies to improve health outcomes.
The workshop was organised by the Zamfara State Primary Health Care Development Agency and the State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
The aim of the Refresher Training Programme, according to Chiroma was to strengthen the capacity of Frontline Health Workers working in publicly-owned primary healthcare facilities to provide quality health services and improve health outcomes in Nigeria.
Chiroma explained that in Nigeria, the 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 Honourable 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.
He said, “In line with this, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency 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 healthcare facilities.
He lamented that 38 years after the launching of PHCDA in the country, not much was achieved.
He added, “Unfortunately, 38 years after the launching of Primary Health Care in Nigeria, it has not achieved the desired goals”.
Also speaking, the Zamfara state Director of disease control and immunization, Almustafa Aliyu, said the priority areas of the training were HIV/AIDS, 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.
In February 2024, Arewa PUNCH investigations revealed that the Federal Government, in partnership with both the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children’s Fund, commenced training for medical professionals on the right application and handling of oxygen as a drug.
This initiative, our correspondent gathered, was in line with the FG’s resolve to bridge the oxygen application deficit gap among health practitioners.
It was also a fallout of some of the challenges that came to the fore while the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the country.
