By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
In his continued efforts toward ensuring healthy living in Sokoto State, Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has approved the scheme for the change of cadre for all those willing to undertake special training in Nursing, Midwifery and Community Health Extension Workers.
Making this disclosure on Thursday while addressing newsmen to mark this year, World Health Workers Week", the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Muhammad Ali Inname said, the Sokoto Health Workers cadre conversion strategy being the first of its kind in Nigeria will help decrease the gap in the much needed clinical health workforce.
Said Dr Ali Inname, "Inline with this year's theme of the World Health Workers Week" which is, "Build The Health Workers Back Better", the Sokoto State government is making a long term investment to better retrain those cadres in large numbers more than what it requires into much needed clinical cadres of Nursing, Midwifery and Community Health Extension Workers".
This according to Dr Inname, will go a long way in decreasing the gap in the much needed clinical health workforce and reduce quackery in the health service delivery.
Explaining how the cadre conversion works, Dr Inname, said existence health workforce with qualifications other than Nursing, Midwifery and Community Health Extension workers will be required to join the special programme of study to be anchored by the accredited School of Health Technology and Nursing Sciences, adding that, "the school/college will coordinate the programme using special modules to be developed and approved by the regulatory bodies".
Speaking further, the State Health Commissioner, said, "Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal approved the scheme for the change of cadre for all those willing to undertake the special training programme. The programme is the first of its kind in the health sector in Nigeria and is being championed by Sokoto State", he enthused.
Dr Inname also disclosed that governor Tambuwal recently approved the recruitment of over 1000 health workers who will be deployed to over 800 Primary Health Cares Centers across the State.
Speaking earlier, Dr Benson Ojile from IHP, said the week-long event is to recognize the contributions of health workers globally. NNL.