The West African Health Organization (WAHO), a specialised institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has announced the harmonisation and finalisation of 58 training curricula and trainers’ guides for health science educators across member states.
The initiative is aimed at promoting standardised health education and strengthening the region’s health workforce by ensuring uniform training for healthcare professionals.
WAHO Director-General, Dr Melchior Aissi, disclosed this on Saturday in Ibadan during a workshop to validate the trainers’ guide and competency framework for teachers of health sciences in the ECOWAS region.
The workshop brought together participants from ECOWAS member states, including professors, health practitioners, representatives of colleges of health sciences, tertiary institutions and other relevant organisations.
Aissi said WAHO had also developed guidelines and a trainer’s manual to support the training of health workers across the sub-region.
According to him, the harmonised trainers’ guide is designed to ensure uniform standards in the education of health professionals and promote a consistent approach to healthcare delivery across member states, from primary to specialist care.
He explained that the initiative would also facilitate the mobility of healthcare professionals by making it easier for practitioners trained in one ECOWAS country to work in another.
“The quality of our health workforce begins with the quality of our trainers. It is therefore our hope and vision that across our region, we can all boast of sound academics and excellent clinicians. The time and effort invested in developing this training manual will surely ensure competence, standardisation, relevance, professional support, and guidance toward a strong workforce,” Aissi said.
Earlier, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, described the development of harmonised and standardised guidelines for training health workers as a strategic investment in the future of healthcare delivery in West Africa.
Represented by the ministry’s Director of Special Projects, Dr Nse Akpan, the minister commended WAHO for its sustained leadership and commitment to strengthening human resources for health across the ECOWAS region.
“This workshop represents a significant milestone in our collective efforts to improve the quality, standardisation and effectiveness of health workforce training across member states.
“The availability of a competent, motivated and well-trained health workforce remains fundamental to achieving universal health coverage and improved health outcomes. The harmonisation of training curricula and the establishment of minimum accreditation criteria for trainers will help ensure consistency in professional education and facilitate regional collaboration.
“This will also enhance the mobility and recognition of health professionals within the ECOWAS community. Nigeria recognises the strategic importance of these initiatives and remains committed to supporting regional efforts aimed at strengthening the health system and building a resilient workforce capable of responding to emerging health challenges,” he said.
The workshop also featured goodwill messages from the West African College of Nurses and Midwives, the Regional Council for Health Professional Associations, and other key stakeholders in the health sector.
