Ondo State Government has organised a series of training for health workers in the state primary healthcare development agency, OSPHCDA under the leadership of the permanent secretary, Dr Francis Adegoke Akanbiemu.
This is in fulfilment of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s promise to take the state health sector to the Zenith of healthcare delivery.
The trainings organised for the workers were in two phases with the themes, “MANAGEMENT OF COMMON MEDICAL CONDITIONS IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SETTING” and “TRAINING OF TRAINERS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROTOCOLS FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF COMMUNITY EPIDEMICS”
The two engagements ran for four consecutive days with primary healthcare coordinators, Health workers, Health Education Officers (HEOs) and Social Mobilization Officers (SMOs) from across the 18 local government areas of the state participating.
All the sessions were led by the Permanent Secretary, OSPHCDA Dr. Francis Akanbiemu, giving indepth insight into how common medical conditions could be managed effectively within the primary healthcare setting and effective community engagement strategies for the prevention and control of diseases.
During the trainings, Participants were also exposed to new technical skills and strategic approaches to mobilize communities, raise awareness about health risks, improve communication tactics, and promote preventive measures during outbreaks, while also strengthening community participation in health programmes.
Declaring the trainings open, Ondo state commissioner for health, Dr Banji Ajaka expressed the commitment of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa towards ensuring that Ondo was not left out in the universal health coverage as reflected in the various impactful policies in the health sector including upgrading of health facilities across the state, recruitment of health workers as well as training and retraining of workers in the primary healthcare system.
Dr Ajaka disclosed plans by the Governor Aiyedatiwa-led administration to build new health facilities in the state, upgrade all primary healthcare centres with solar power system and perimeter fencing urging health workers in the state to justify government’s investments in the sector by being more committed and resourceful.
The commissioner charged the participants to apply the knowledge garnered from the trainings proficiently to boost the health of every citizen of Ondo state even as he urged them to always maintain a good relationship with patients.
Dr Ajaka used the occasion to announce that the state would be participating in a federal government programme tagged PROJECT 10MILLION, scheduled to take place before the end of this year.
He said ten million Nigerians would have the opportunity of getting their blood sugar level and blood pressure checked during the programme with a view to helping them manage the conditions to halt the increasing rate of sudden death, occasioned by diabetes and hypertension.
Leading the first training, the Permanent Secretary, OSPHCDA, Dr Francis Akanbiemu took the health workers on ethical decision, having the knowledge of ailments, the right attitude to health matters and handling such issues professionally, using modern skills and techniques.
He also spoke on ways to handle common ailments such as diabetes, malaria, hypertension, childhood illnesses, and cholera, among others, and to also refer as appropriate, any medical issue beyond their scope of management.
Another facilitator, an Akure based consultant paediatrician, Dr Banke Oluwafemi, counselled health workers on innovative ways of treating or managing common conditions such pneumonia, bronchiolitis, viral infections among others.
The second training, which focused on community engagement protocol for disease prevention was also led by Dr Akanbiemu who emphasised the involvement of community in handling epidemics, providing them with scientifically proven facts rather than myths or misconceptions.
He challenged the participants to step-down the trainings at their various facilities across the eighteen local government areas of Ondo state for better treatment outcome.
While stressing the importance of regular training to achieving global best practices, the Permanent Secretary commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for approving series of training intended to equip the workers in the primary healthcare system with the necessary skills to boost the health of the citizenry.
The director, Medical laboratory services, OSPHCDA, Dr Isreal Adeyemi and the director, Nursing services, Mrs Adeyinka Kajero described the training as timely and essential for healthworkers and appreciated Ondo state government for the capacity building.
Some of the participants, Dr Solomon Adegeye, Mrs Taiwo Adeyemi, Kikelomo Gold, Oluwaseun Falade, Margaret Ademoyegun, Racheal Ayeomo and Mr Diamond Micheal said the training has upgraded their knowledge about treating common illnesses and engaging communities in preventing epidemic.
Highpoint of the trainings included role plays and a field work visit to Primary Healthcare Centre Arakale, Akure.
The events were attended by directors in the Ondo state primary healthcare development agency.
