Bukola Afeni
The Director of Health Planning, Research & Statistics at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Nigeria, Dr Kamila Shoretire has hailed the significant progress made in strengthening the health workforce in Nigeria through the Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP).
He made the disclosure at the Nigeria Sharing and Learning Event held in Abuja.
Dr. Shoretire celebrated the achievements of the GHWP, which has trained 2,577 health workers in clinical skills, leadership, education, and Gender Equality & Social Inclusion (GESI) since its launch.
The programme has also supported 14 health partners across Nigeria, the UK, Ghana, and Kenya.
He said the Global Health Workforce Programme has been instrumental in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“We celebrate not only our achievements but also the resilience and dedication of our healthcare workers who have worked tirelessly to deliver quality healthcare services to the Nigerian people.”
Additionally, 225 doctors have been trained in the Advanced Obstetrics Surgical Skills Course (AOSS), with further training sessions held in Kano and Enugu.
The Founder and President of Wellbeing Foundation Africa, H.E Toyin Saraki also emphasized the importance of investing in health workers.
“The Global Health Workforce Programme is a transformative initiative designed to optimize, build, and strengthen the health workforce,” said Saraki.
“We are supporting more resilient health systems post-pandemic and advancing progress towards Universal Health Coverage in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.” She said through its Health Partnership Initiative, GHWP fosters cross-border learning and capacity strengthening, ensuring that health professionals are well-equipped to provide high-quality care where it is needed most.
During a panel session on sustainability and the impact of training interventions, Prof. Charles Ameh, Head of the Global Health Emergency Obstetric and Quality of Care Unit at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, highlighted the programme’s success.
He noted the strong partnership between Wellbeing Foundation Africa and the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), which led to the successful implementation of the initiative.”
“We have trained 95 consultants, 82 of whom are from the College. We also established two Centres of Excellence in Lagos and Abuja, fully equipped to reduce travel time for participants.
“Through our close collaboration with the College, we were able to tailor the training to reach more residents from affiliated institutions. Another key sustainability milestone is the integration of the Advanced Obstetrics Skills Course into the NPMCN curriculum.”
The Founding Partner of Ducit Blue Solutions, Mrs Estelle Mbadiwe emphasized the programme’s impact:
“This initiative, conducted in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health, began with a comprehensive scoping activity where we engaged multiple stakeholders working with health workers across Nigeria.
“We identified national priorities critical to strengthening the health workforce, advancing Universal Health Coverage, and building a resilient healthcare system capable of meeting the country’s needs.”
Through the Health Partnership, LSTM, NPMCN, and WBFA have made a tangible impact, training 225 doctors in the Advanced Obstetrics Surgical Skills Course (AOSS). Centers of Excellence have been established in Abuja and Lagos, with additional training sessions held in Kano and Enugu, strengthening the capacity of healthcare professionals across the country. By embedding the AOSS curriculum into postgraduate medical education, this initiative is securing long-term improvements in maternal and neonatal care, creating a stronger and more resilient healthcare system for Nigeria.
This project is funded through the Global Health Workforce Programme, supported by the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), benefiting both the UK and partner country health sectors.
