No fewer than 1,282 frontline health workers in Kogi have been trained to address critical gaps in service delivery and improve health outcomes across the state.
The training was organized by the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA) in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health, the Federal Government, and development partners.
The event also featured the presentation of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the frontline health workers.
Governor Ahmed Ododo, who officially flagged off the training at Government House, Lokoja, said the initiative was designed to bridge critical gaps in service delivery and enhance healthcare outcomes across the state.
“We are committed to providing our citizens with access to quality healthcare services, and we recognize that our healthcare workforce plays a critical role in achieving this goal,” Ododo said.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Elder Joel Salifu, disclosed the government’s plans to recruit additional nurses and midwives to strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce.
He emphasized that hiring more healthcare professionals was part of his administration’s efforts to revitalize the healthcare system and improve service delivery for the people of Kogi.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, commended the Kogi government for its commitment to strengthening the primary healthcare system in the state.
Aina, represented by the Director of System Development at NPHCDA, Dr. Ngozi Nwosu, praised the governor’s efforts in revitalizing primary healthcare centers (PHCs) and enhancing the skills of healthcare workers.
He stressed that the training would equip health workers with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide integrated and high-quality healthcare services.
He also noted that the Federal Ministry of Health, through the agency, had launched a comprehensive program to train 120,000 frontline health workers nationwide.
“So far, we have trained 56,060 frontline health workers in 34 states across the country. The Kogi government plans to train a total of 1,282 frontline health workers in the state,” he said.
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On his part, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adeiza Abdulazeez, described the training as a crucial step toward achieving the state government’s goal of providing quality healthcare services to its citizens.
Abdulazeez noted that the state government had made significant progress in improving healthcare services, particularly in vaccination, achieving an 80 percent reduction in unvaccinated individuals.
He underscored the importance of building a strong and efficient primary healthcare system, which is vital for achieving universal health coverage.
The commissioner reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system, particularly at the primary healthcare level.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of KSPHCDA, Dr. Musa Mu’azu, described the PHC system as the bedrock of healthcare infrastructure and frontline health workers at the local level as “frontline soldiers” providing essential health services in communities.
He highlighted the significance of the training program in equipping frontline health workers with the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality care.
Mu’azu noted that the primary healthcare system faces several challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of skilled personnel, and limited resources.
However, he commended the governor for his commitment to strengthening the healthcare system, particularly at the primary healthcare level.
He praised the government’s efforts to revitalize PHCs, enhance the skills of healthcare workers, and provide PPE to ensure their safety.
Mu’azu expressed optimism that the training would help address the unique challenges faced by healthcare workers in Kogi State.
He urged participants to take full advantage of the training by asking questions and sharing their experiences to enhance their knowledge and skills.
According to him, the ultimate goal is to ensure that communities benefit from the knowledge and skills acquired by health workers, leading to improved health outcomes and a stronger healthcare system in Kogi State.
In their separate remarks, Dr. Gwomson Dauda from the World Health Organization (WHO), Amb. A.K. Hudu from UNICEF, and the traditional ruler, the Olu of Apata, HRH Oba Fredrick Balogun, jointly pledged their support for the government’s initiative to strengthen the workforce and improve healthcare services in Kogi.
The highlight of the occasion was the official inauguration of the training and the presentation of PPE to the participants by the governor.
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