The Kwara State Government has commenced a nine-day integrated training programme for 193 newly recruited healthcare workers deployed to state-owned Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs).

Tagged "A Nine-day Integrated Training Programme on Improving Quality of Care for Newly Recruited Healthcare Workers in Kwara", the initiative aims to enhance service delivery and strengthen primary healthcare across the state.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the training in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area, on Friday, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Nusirat Elelu, said the programme is designed to build the capacity of frontline health personnel.

She disclosed that the training is being facilitated using part of the $500,000 prize won by Kwara at the North Leadership Challenge Award, underscoring the state's commitment to investing in human capital development within the health sector.

Ms Elelu recalled that the state had won the North Leadership Challenge Award in 2024 for a second time.

"This is the first batch under the leadership challenge award. We've been able to secure funding to train 193 of them.

"The expectations for these healthcare workers are quite a lot. We expect that the majority of what is learnt is going to be cascaded down to the PHC level, and of course, to improve the quality of care," she said.

Michael Oguntoye, the director of the Primary Healthcare System, explained that the trainees would receive training on primary healthcare principles.

He underscored the need for the new personnel to be educated in understanding the fundamentals of primary healthcare, including preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative services.

Mr Oguntoye pointed out that the training of the newly recruited healthcare workers would help the state to strengthen PHC services, improve health outcomes, and promote healthier communities.

"It's an opportunity for the healthcare workers who have not worked in a PHC setting to be adequately prepared to function well in that setting," he said.

(NAN)