In a significant boost to Nigeria’s healthcare system, the United Kingdom’s Department of Health and Social Care has pledged £2 million to support the Nigerian government in its efforts to strengthen the health workforce and achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The funding will be utilized over a two-year period to optimize the performance, quality, and impact of the health workforce through evidence-informed policies and strategies.
The World Health Organization (WHO) applauded this funding commitment, stating that it would play a vital role in bolstering Nigeria’s healthcare system. The grant will address the challenges faced by the Nigerian health system, which is grappling with the need for a resilient healthcare system capable of providing quality services, promoting health, and preventing diseases. These challenges have been exacerbated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, which has strained the availability of healthcare workers across the country.
Dr. Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, emphasized the importance of a skilled and motivated health workforce for Nigeria’s quest to end preventable deaths and strengthen resilience against global threats. He highlighted that the UK’s international development funding aligns with Nigeria’s health workforce strategic plan and aims to enhance worker skills and improve health outcomes in the long term.
The two-year Health Workforce Support Project aims to assist the Nigerian government at both national and sub-national levels, collaborating with regulatory bodies, professional associations, and other key stakeholders to develop transformative strategies. These strategies will focus on scaling up the quantity and quality of health workers, including the development and review of competency-based curricula. The project will ensure that investments in health workforce development align with the current and future needs of the population and health systems. It will also strengthen the capacity of institutions, including regulatory bodies, for effective public policy stewardship, leadership, and governance. Additionally, the project aims to optimize health workers’ retention, equitable distribution, and performance, while improving the management of health workforce data for monitoring and accountability.
To implement these interventions, the project will leverage the technical expertise of the World Health Organization, drawing from their experience in implementing similar projects with significant results in the past. The project will be implemented at sub-national levels, with a specific focus on six states: Cross River, Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, and Lagos. This approach builds upon the presence and technical support already provided by the 37 WHO sub-national offices in Nigeria, extending support to state governments.
Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, the WHO Representative in Nigeria, emphasized the importance of a robust health workforce for an effective and resilient health system. He highlighted the need for an adequate number of health workers who are fit for their roles, motivated to perform, and equitably distributed across sub-national levels to ensure equitable access to healthcare services. Through the UK government’s generous support, WHO will deploy technical assistance from all three levels of the organization to develop evidence-based policies and strategies, enhance capacity building and management, and improve planning and management of Nigeria’s health workforce.
With the UK’s commitment to investing in Nigeria’s health workforce, the country can look forward to significant improvements in its healthcare system. The funding will contribute to achieving Universal Health Coverage and strengthening the capacity to respond to future health challenges effectively.
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