Tambuwal approves cadre conversion for Sokoto health workers

BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

In his continued efforts to ensure healthy living in Sokoto State, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has approved the change of cadre for all those willing to undertake special training in Nursing, Midwifery and as Community Health Extension Workers.

Making this disclosure on Thursday while addressing newsmen to mark this year’s World Health Workers Week, the State commissioner of Health, Dr Muhammad Ali Inname said Sokoto Health Workers cadre conversion strategy being the first of its kind in Nigeria will help decrease the gap in the much-needed clinical health workforce.

Said Dr Ali Inname, “In line with this year’s theme of the World Health Workers Week, which is, ‘Build the Health Workers Back Better,’ the Sokoto State government is making a long-term investment to better retrain those cadres in large numbers, more than what it requires, into much needed clinical cadres of Nursing, Midwifery and Community Health Extension Workers.”

This, according to Dr Inname, will go a long way in decreasing the gap in the much-needed clinical health workforce and reduce quackery in health service delivery.

Explaining how the cadre conversion works, Dr Inname said that health workers with qualifications other than Nursing, Midwifery and Community Health Extension Workers will be required to join a special programme of study to be anchored by accredited Schools of Health Technology and Nursing Sciences, adding, that “the school/college will coordinate the programme using special modules to be developed and approved by the regulatory bodies.”

Speaking further, the State’s Health Commissioner said, “Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal approved the scheme for the change of cadre for all those willing to undertake the special training programme.

“The program is the first of its kind in the health sector in Nigeria and is being championed by Sokoto State,” he enthused.

Dr Inname also divulged that Governor Tambuwal recently approved the recruitment of over 1000 health workers all of whom will be deployed to over 800 Primary Health Care centers across the State.

Speaking earlier, Dr Benson Ojile said the week-long event is to recognize the contributions of health workers globally.