The Kwara State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has trained 100 newly recruited health workers to strengthen primary healthcare delivery across the state.
The nine-day programme, held in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area, brought together participants selected from the 193 wards of the state.
Speaking at the closing ceremony on Thursday, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, said the training was financed by UNICEF through proceeds from the $500,000 Leadership Challenge Award won by the state. Kwara has won the North Central regional award twice.
Elelu explained that most of the participants were fresh recruits who had little or no prior experience in primary healthcare. The training, she said, was designed to build their capacity and provide them with foundational knowledge of the sector.
Director of Primary Health Care Systems, Dr. Michael Oguntoye, noted that the programme covered the core principles of primary healthcare, including preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative services. He added that the initiative would help prepare new workers to effectively deliver essential services at the community level, thereby improving health outcomes.
Also addressing participants, the Director of Personnel, Finance and Supply, Mr. Olayioye Ajide, highlighted civil service rules relevant to health workers, cautioning against misconduct and inefficiency while urging them to remain disciplined.
In a goodwill message, the State Coordinator of the Civil Society for Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition, Femi Olatunbosun, praised the agency for prioritizing continuous training to improve healthcare delivery.
The programme forms part of the state’s broader effort to expand access to quality healthcare through a well-trained workforce.
