Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya to profit from UK’s £15 million well being workforce fund

Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya are set to profit from a 15 million-pound well being workforce fund earmarked by the British authorities to assist strengthen their healthcare workforces.

In a press release made accessible to the press on Friday, the British authorities stated: “the funding will assist upskill employees and enhance well being outcomes by means of improved administration, knowledge assortment, coaching, and retention alternatives; supporting a robust worldwide well being workforce higher equips the UK to sort out world well being challenges.”

The funds which are coming from the ring-fenced Official Growth Help (ODA) price range for 2022-2025 might be dedicated to optimising, constructing, and strengthening the well being workforce within the three African international locations. Recognising the significance of the well being workforce in decrease and middle-income international locations in enhancing well being outcomes and attaining common well being protection, the funding will allow individuals in Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana to entry the total vary of well being companies they want, once they want them.

Learn additionally: Food Crisis: UN-NGOs appeal for $396m urgent response fund for Borno, others

The UK authorities stated that the fund grew to become obligatory following the detrimental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, stressing the necessity for them to work carefully with worldwide companions to sort out world well being threats, which put appreciable strain on the NHS.

Secondly, on account of the pandemic, there grew to become an pressing want to coach extra healthcare employees who’re anticipated to deal with extra of those challenges.

It acknowledged that “the World Well being Organisation (WHO) estimates a scarcity of 10 million well being staff globally by 2030, which threatens attaining world common well being protection and will worsen worldwide well being inequalities.

“Addressing important workforce challenges is essential to strengthening well being programs and constructing world resilience towards future pandemics so individuals internationally – together with within the UK – will be protected.”


In the meantime, Will Quince, UK Well being Minister, stated: “This funding goals to make an actual distinction in strengthening the efficiency of well being programs in every of the taking part international locations.

“Extremely expert, resilient employees are the spine of a robust well being service, so I’m delighted we will help the coaching, recruitment, and retention of expert well being workforces in Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana.

“This funding goals to make an actual distinction in strengthening the efficiency of well being programs in every of the taking part international locations, which may have a knock-on impact on boosting world pandemic preparedness and lowering well being inequalities.

“The pandemic confirmed us that sufferers within the UK are usually not protected until the world as an entire is resilient towards well being threats, and it will assist us in delivering on that ambition.”

Six million kilos from the ODA funding pledge will help the WHO to ship well being workforce planning and capacity-building work, corresponding to improved administration programs and coaching and retention alternatives, in collaboration with native governments and well being system stakeholders.

As a part of this package deal, the Division of Well being and Social Care can even run a £9 million, two-year aggressive grant scheme for a not-for-profit organisation to coordinate the supply of partnership work in taking part international locations.

The partnership programmes for the well being workforce embrace linking UK establishments with native well being programs, selling abilities exchanges, and enhancing the curriculum, regulation, and steerage in Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana.

The supply coordinator might be answerable for establishing, funding, and overseeing this work to drive enchancment in high quality and retention of healthcare employees within the three international locations and in the end assist to make sure higher outcomes for sufferers.

The funding builds on £5 million beforehand dedicated as a part of the Constructing the Future Worldwide Workforce ODA programme in Ghana, Uganda, and Somaliland, which goals to enhance well being workforce planning and administration, present coaching alternatives for refugees and displaced individuals, and hyperlink NHS establishments with nation well being establishments.

The British authorities added that “Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana had been chosen for the ODA award as they confirmed a transparent want for workforce help, evidenced by excessive inhabitants mortality charges and low employees numbers, in addition to unemployment amongst their skilled well being staff.”