2025 WORLD HEALTH DAY: FG Targets Training 120,000 Frontline Workers

 

 

 

The Federal Government through  Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has reiterated its commitment to reducing maternal and newborn mortality, emphasizing the urgent significance of retraining of frontline health workers.

Speaking in a Radio Nigeria Network news programme on Monday; Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako stated that the theme for this year’s Commemoration of World Health Day “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” aligns perfectly with the manifesto agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

According to a statement by Alaba Balogun
Deputy Director , Information & Public Relations, Dr. Salako said the commitment of the government to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths in the country is receiving urgent attention.

“And to achieve that, the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative was developed as a mechanism to ensure that universal health coverage is achieved.

We are able to save lives. We are able to prevent physical and financial pains”, he added.

Elaborating on some of the maternal and new born initiatives of the Ministry, the Minister highlighted the critical importance of training and retraining of health workers. There is a target to train at least 120,000 frontline workers, he stated. About 50 percent of them have already been trained.

“If you look at one of the key deliverables of the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare within the Presidential Priorities is to ensure that by 2027, we reduce maternal mortality by at least 20 percent and reduce infant mortality by at least 15 percent.

In order to ensure we do that, the professional delivering the service must be well trained”, Dr. Salako further emphasized.

Taking capacity building a notch higher, the Minister pointed out that a practitioner must show evidence of continued professional development on annual basis; besides renewal of practising licence.

Speaking on ensuring equitable access to maternal and newborn care across the country, Dr. Salako informed Nigerians that the present administration is intentional on expansion and development of primary healthcare centres.

He further said: ” We are developing such initiatives like MAMI (Maternal & Neo-Natal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative) which is specifically targeting high-budget local government with respect to maternal mortality rates.

So you will see that with all this put together, we are taking maternal and child healthcare closer to the people at the grassroots.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government through Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has re-appointed Dr. Bashir Idris to serve a second and final tenure as the Registrar/CEO of Community Health Practitioners’ Registration Council, an agency under the Ministry .

His re-appointment is contained in a letter presented to him by the Honourable Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stating the four-year second tenure takes effect from 2nd April 2025.

In his words of exhortations, Dr. Salako urged the Registrar to regard his appointment by government as an attestation of satisfactory performance during his first tenureship, emphasizing, he should not rest on his oars but to consolidate on his previous achievements.

Dr. Idris re-appointment therefore, the Minister continued, is expected to serve as motivation and encouragement to render more effective services, opportunity to advance regulations on community health services and, ensure the highest standards of professional practice among community health practitioners.

Dr. Salako said:“I encourage you to re-double your efforts, strengthen the board more and start preparing for autonomy because I believe it will come one day, start preparing in terms of increasing your financial base and diversification of activities”.

Responding, Dr. Bashir expressed his gratitude to the Ministry for his re- appointment, pledging his dedication and, unwavering commitment to achieving the mandate of the Council.
Most especially, emphasizing that measures and strategies would be strengthened to ensure that infant mortality is reduced to the barest minimum.