As part of concerted efforts to strengthen Healthcare Delivery in Ekiti State, 800 frontline health workers drawn from health facilities across the 16 Local Government Areas of the State have commenced a 13-day refresher training organized by the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), in collaboration with the Ekiti State Government
Addressing the participants at the training programme in Ado-Ekiti, the State Coordinator of the National Primary HealthCare Development Agency in Ekiti State, Mr Adekunle Olalekan, said the training was designed to strengthen the capacity of frontline health workers working in the public health facilities to enable them to provide quality health care services and improved health outcomes in Nigeria.
Mr Olalekan explained that the refresher training programme which is being attended by Skilled Birth Attendants such as Nurses, Midwives, Community Health Officers (CHOs)Junior Community Health Extension Workers and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) is concentrating on critical service areas aimed at accelerating improvement in health outcomes and enhancing quality service delivery in primary healthcare facilities.
According to him, the ongoing 13-day training was the second phase as 500 frontline health workers had earlier been trained in the state a few months ago by the agency during the first phase.
“A total of 1300 frontline health workers have been trained by NPHCDA in Ekiti state to enhance healthcare service delivery” ” he said
The NPHCDA State Coordinator disclosed that the 13-day training was designed to run in two batches as 800 participants including skilled birth attendants and junior community health extension workers received foundational training in the first six days while the last seven days was a specialised training for 739 skilled birth attendants including Nurses, Midwives, Community Health Officers (CHOs), and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) on Basic Emergency Obstetric Care and Management (BEMONC) and other special skills.
He explained that the programme aims to equip healthcare workers with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide high-quality care, ultimately.
While applauding the National Primary HealthCare Development Agency and the Ekiti State Government for the intervention, the Executive Secretary, Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Rasheed Adepoju said the training was not only timely and apt but would also boost the morale and capacity of the frontline health workers to deliver optimally and effectively at their health facilities
Dr Adepoju explained that the training would increase the competency and skills of the frontline health workers across the 16 local government areas of the state as well as improve the health outcomes of the state.
The Executive Secretary charged the participants to apply the knowledge gained from the training to improve care and provide high-quality services to patients at their various healthcare facilities.
In their remarks, one of the National Supervisors of the programme in Ekiti State, Mrs Victoria Adodah, the Medical Officer of Health, Ado Local Government and a facilitator at the training, Dr Kester Peter and representative of one of the supporting partners, the Pathfinder International Dr Olufemi Ibitoye noted that the training would enhance better performance of the selected officers in their facilities.
While explaining that this training was necessary to keep workers abreast of the new trend and acquire new skills in the ever-changing world, they called on the participants to cascade the training at their various health facilities across the state for an enduring and positive impact.
Reacting on behalf of the participants, Mrs Dorcas Oladesu lauded the organisers of the training.
She assured that they will use the knowledge and skills gained from the programme for improved services at their various duty posts.
