By Robinah Nanyondo & Julius Mugaga I Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: World Health Organization (WHO) urges African Governments to invest more in strengthening competency based health work education and research.
According to W.H.O Country Representative Dr. Yona Tegegn Woldemariam, skilled and competent health workers are essential element of robust well functioning health systems for the population.
Dr. Yonas says, African Countries should recognize that well trained health workers are essential investment for a resilient health system.
These remarks were delivered by Dr. Sunny Okoroafor, the Technical Officer in Health Systems strengthening during the Launch of the two day Joint annual Health Professions Education Scientific Conference 2023 held in Kampala.
Meanwhile Dr. Sarah Kiguli, the Head of Department Pediatrics and Child Health at Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine mentioned that leaders should champion all healthcare workers and ensure full representation and inclusion across disciplines during high level meetings and decisions.
“We should understand how many health professionals do we need, which level, where will they work from before training many of them because government says has no money so we need this in order to effectively facilitate health institutions and professionals because if they don’t work, funders will also don’t come yet we need a health population for a productive nation”. Said Dr. Kiguli.
On the other hand, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University urged Government of Uganda to utilize the available resources in the treasury to solve medical workers pay issues.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University.
Mr. Nawangwe told participants that majority of Ugandan workers have exited the country seeking for greener pastures abroad due to this issues and believed if seriously looked into, the country would retain them here to better our health systems.
It will be remembered that medical officers special grade (medical internees) laid down their tools demanding for increase of their salaries from current six million Uganda Shillings while senior health officers are protesting failure by government to pay their allowances for over six months.
This remarks were expressed during the Launch of the two day Joint annual Health Professions Education Scientific Conference 2023 held in Kampala running from 11 to 12, May, 2023 under the theme, “Health Professions Education for improved Health Outcomes” organized by Makerere University College of Health Sciences and East African Health Professionals Educators Association (EAHPEA).