The British government has allocated a £15 million health workforce fund to Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya to strengthen their healthcare systems. In a statement released on Friday, the UK government highlighted that the funding would enhance staff skills, improve health outcomes through better administration and data collection, offer training opportunities, and support staff retention. By investing in a robust international health workforce, the UK aims to enhance its preparedness in tackling global health challenges.
The funds, sourced from the ring-fenced Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget for 2022-2025, will be utilized to optimize, build, and strengthen the health workforce in the three African countries. Recognizing the significance of a well-functioning health workforce in low- and middle-income nations for improving health outcomes and achieving universal health coverage, the funding will enable individuals in Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana to access comprehensive health services when needed. The UK government emphasized the necessity of this fund in response to the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, underscoring the importance of working closely with international partners to address global health threats that put considerable pressure on the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
Furthermore, the pandemic highlighted the urgent need to train more healthcare professionals who can effectively respond to such challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates a global shortage of 10 million health workers by 2030, posing a threat to achieving universal health coverage and exacerbating health inequalities worldwide.
Will Quince, UK Health Minister, stated, “This funding aims to make a real difference in strengthening the performance of health systems in each of the participating countries. Highly skilled, resilient staff are the backbone of a strong health service, so I’m delighted we can support the training, recruitment, and retention of skilled health workforces in Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana. This funding aims to make a real difference in strengthening the performance of health systems in each of the participating countries, which will have a knock-on effect on boosting global pandemic preparedness and reducing health inequalities.”
Six million pounds from the ODA funding will be allocated to the WHO for health workforce planning, capacity-building, improved administration systems, and training and retention opportunities in collaboration with local governments and health system stakeholders. Additionally, the Department of Health and Social Care will oversee a £9 million, two-year competitive grant scheme for a not-for-profit organization to coordinate partnership work in the participating countries.
The partnership programs for the health workforce will involve connecting UK institutions with local health systems, facilitating skills exchanges, and enhancing the curriculum, regulation, and guidance in Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana. The delivery coordinator will be responsible for establishing, funding, and overseeing these initiatives to drive improvements in the quality and retention of healthcare staff in the three countries, ultimately leading to better outcomes for patients.
This funding builds upon the £5 million previously committed to the Building the Future International Workforce ODA program in Ghana, Uganda, and Somaliland. The program aims to improve health workforce planning and management, provide training opportunities for refugees and displaced individuals, and establish connections between NHS institutions and country health institutions.
The UK government emphasized that Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana were chosen for the ODA award due to their evident need for workforce support, as reflected in high population mortality rates, low staff numbers, and unemployment among trained health workers.
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