Gov. Makinde Approves Recruitment Into Primary Health Care System • Frontline Health Workers Begin 5-Day Workshop
Executive secretary, Oyo state health care board, Dr Muideen Olatunji has expressed optimism that the state government would soon begin the recruitment of personnel into primary health system in the state.
Dr. Olatunji disclosed this in Ibadan at the opening ceremony of a five-day training of trainers of Frontline health workers across the 33 local government areas of Oyo state organized in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA and development partners.
The executive secretary who said personnel at the primary health care system in the state have been overstretched as a result of shortage of manpower, explained that the board has met with governor Seyi Makinde who has expressed readiness to recruit soon.
He said “We need well over fourteen thousand personnel to operate optimally but we presently have less than five thousand”.
“We’ve been able to advocate to the executive governor of the state, who has graciously approved that 30percent of our manpower need should be recruited now. Approval has been granted, we’re only trying to fine-tune the necessary protocol to get it done so that we can close that gap.”
While expressing hope that the process is fast tracked, Dr Olatunji identified the need to engage more hands into the primary health sector for better service delivery.
He said the first phase of the training had been done at the national level while the training at the state level is expected to train personnel that would to their local facilities to impact on others.
Dr. Olatunji explained that the Federal government saw the need to bridge the capacity gap in the health sector, hence the purpose of the 5-day training
Also speaking, National coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, represented by the Oyo state coordinator of the agency, Mrs Adijat Ogundare expressed confidence that the training would improve health care services, urging the participants to serve according to laid down guidelines in line with international best practices.
Earlier, Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of health, Dr. Ayinde Akintunde, said the state government is poised to quality health care delivery for residents.
The commissioner said the training is expected to reduce maternal and mortality rate and boost healthcare system in the state.
Thanks in anticipation