The West African Health Organisation (WAHO), a specialised institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has announced the harmonisation and finalisation of 58 trainers’ guide curricula.

The curricula are designed for health science teachers across ECOWAS member states to promote standardised training and strengthen the region’s health workforce.

The Director-General of WAHO, Dr Melchior Aissi, said this on Saturday in Ibadan during a workshop to finalise the trainers’ guide and competency framework for teachers of health sciences in the ECOWAS region.

The participants at the workshop were drawn from ECOWAS member states and included professors, health practitioners and representatives of colleges of health sciences, tertiary institutions and other organisations.

Mr Aissi said WAHO had also developed guidelines and a trainers’ manual to support the training of health workers across the ECOWAS region.

He said the harmonised trainers’ guide aimed to ensure uniformity in training health professionals and to promote a consistent approach to healthcare delivery across member states, from basic to specialist levels.

According to him, the initiative would make it easier for health professionals trained in one member state to work in another country within the ECOWAS region.

“The quality of our health workforce begins with the quality of our trainers. It is therefore our hope and vision that across our region, we can all boast of sound academics and excellent clinicians.

“The time and effort invested in developing this training manual will surely ensure competence, standardisation, relevance, professional support, and guidance toward a strong workforce,” he said.

Earlier, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said the development of harmonised and standardised guidelines for training health workers remained a strategic investment in the future of healthcare delivery in West Africa.

Represented by the director of special projects in the ministry, Dr Nse Akpan, the minister commended WAHO for its continued leadership and commitment to strengthening human resources for health across the ECOWAS region.

“This workshop represents a significant milestone in our collective efforts to improve the quality, standardisation, and effectiveness of health workforce training across member states.

“The availability of a competent, motivated, and well-trained health workforce remains fundamental to the achievement of universal health coverage and improved health outcomes.

“The harmonisation of training curricula and the establishment of minimum accreditation criteria for trainers will help ensure consistency in professional education and facilitate regional collaboration.

“This will also enhance the mobility and recognition of health professionals within the ECOWAS community.

“Nigeria recognises the strategic importance of these initiatives and remains committed to supporting regional efforts aimed at strengthening its health system and building a resilient health workforce capable of responding to emerging health challenges,” he said.

The workshop featured goodwill messages from the West African College of Nurses and Midwives, the Regional Council for Health Professional Associations and other key stakeholders in the health sector.

(NAN)