WHO, Federal Government Support Cross River State In Upgrading Health Workforce Registry
In a bid to strengthen healthcare planning and workforce management, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Federal Ministry of Health have partnered with the Cross River State Government to upgrade the state’s health workforce registry.
The initiative was unveiled at a multi-stakeholder training session in Calabar, aimed at equipping health officials with the necessary skills to update and maintain an accurate registry of healthcare professionals across the state.
During the four-day workshop, experts from the Federal Ministry of Health and WHO introduced a comprehensive approach to bridging data gaps in workforce distribution, ensuring that healthcare facilities across Cross River State are adequately staffed.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, emphasized the critical need for an updated health personnel registry. Represented by the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Mr. Casmir Ugbong, he stated, “We are not fully aware of the existing workforce gaps in health centers across the state. A comprehensive registry will serve as a reliable tool for recruitment and resource allocation.”
Dr. Ayuk further highlighted that an enhanced registry would provide policymakers with essential data for strategic decision-making, workforce deployment, recruitment, and training. “This update will offer a scorecard, a fact sheet on the distribution and indices of human resources for health, helping us bridge professional gaps,” he added.
Encouraging the participants to ensure accurate data collection, he stressed, “It is your duty to guarantee that every healthcare worker in your unit is included in the registry. We believe in the integrity of this process and expect quality data to drive effective healthcare planning.”
The Director General of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Vivien Otu, commended the participants for their dedication. Represented by the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Lucy Enakirerhi, she expressed gratitude to WHO and the Federal Ministry of Health for supporting this vital initiative.
A representative from the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. John Ayoade, acknowledged Cross River State as one of the few Nigerian states with an existing workforce registry and praised its commitment to continuous improvement in healthcare service delivery.
The workshop featured discussions on the benefits of an advanced health workforce registry, including the equitable distribution of health professionals, improved data-driven policy formulation, and enhanced workforce deployment strategies.
This initiative marks a significant step toward strengthening the healthcare system in Cross River State, ensuring that every citizen has access to well-staffed and efficiently managed medical facilities.
