The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) says it is taking steps towards tackling migration of health workers through capacity training programmes.
The Cross River Coordinator of the NPHCDA, Mr. Julius Idoko said this at the opening of a five-day capacity training for 100 frontline healthcare workers in the state on Tuesday.
Idoko said that the training, a project of the Health Minister, Prof. Mohammad Pate, was aimed at improving the capacity of health workers and making migration out of the country less attractive.
“The rate at which health workers leave the country has become worrisome, this training is to build their capacities.
“This initiative is one of the steps we are taking to curb the continuous exodus of healthcare professionals from the country.
ALSO READ: UNILAG College of Medicine inducts 38 radiographers
“If we continue to engage and improve the capacity of our health workers, there will be no reason for them to leave the country,” he said.
The coordinator said that the initiative targets to capture no fewer than 120,000 healthcare workers in public institutions across the country.
Also speaking, Cross River’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, described the training as ‘very important’ to the state following its peculiar challenges.
He said the training would strengthen the skills of healthcare workers and enhance their performances.
Ayuk said that the state government would equip no fewer than 450 primary health centres within the next one year to enhance healthcare delivery.
The Director-General, Cross Rivers Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Vivian Otu, commended NPHCDA for the initiative, describing it as timely and well-intended.
He said that those who benefited from the exercise would train others to ensure an active and efficient workforce.
The programme attracted participants from WHO, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, President’s Malaria Initiative among others
NAN
