24 attend WHO leadership training
The first batch of 24 beneficiaries of a World Health Organisation(WHO)-Ghana health leadership development programme have begun their training.
They are made up of heads of agencies under the Ministry of Health (MoH).
Advertisement
The programme, known as the Pathways to Leadership for Health Transformation, was initiated by the WHO in 2015 and adopted by the MoH and the health ministries of many other African countries.
Driving national health reforms
The programme serves as a strategic framework that is expected to guide WHO's contribution to the sustainable development platform in Africa.
The capacity building is expected to facilitate the development of the necessary leadership and management competencies to drive national health reforms towards the delivery of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The expected outcomes of the programme included improvements in the quality of health planning, coordination, human and financial resource management.
Opening ceremony
Speaking at the opening ceremony for the training, a Deputy Minister of Health, Alhaji Mahama Asei Seini, said the government was striving to implement health sector reforms aimed at achieving its road map to UHC for improved health outcomes.
The country has defined UHC as ensuring that all people in Ghana have timely access to high quality healthcare services, irrespective of the ability to pay at the point of use.
He said governance and leadership across the entire health sector were critical to the road map to UHC.
He, therefore, expressed gratitude to the WHO for collaborating with the MoH to roll out the programme in the country.
The deputy minister also said the programme was expected to enhance high-level advocacy and ownership of the country's UHC agenda and provide better support and motivation for staff of the health sector.
Alhaji Seini further said the changing dynamics in healthcare delivery, the need to lay a solid health foundation for future generations and the need to boost the national capacity to respond better to health pandemics also underscored the importance of the programme.
Added ability
Addressing participants virtually, the WHO Africa Regional Director, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, expressed gratitude to governments of African countries for their collaboration on the Pathway to Leadership for Health Transformation Programme and their determination to introduce extensive changes to the way leaders were working for better health results.
"This four-month holistic approach to leadership development aims to provide health sector leaders the added ability to make the greatest difference in addressing health sector transformation challenges," she said.
Dr Moeti explained that it was for that purpose that the WHO had invested in that transformative programme to give beneficiaries an opportunity to deepen their management and leadership skills.
She said the programme would also help beneficiaries to think creatively and innovatively when facilitating initiatives with the government and other partners.
"I am confident that a strong learning community provides the foundations for successful operations. Therefore, our plan is to continue educational activities for people involved in health management to help them stay competitive and have an advantage in a demanding and quickly evolving environment," she said.
Writer’s email: [email protected]
