May 21, (THEWILL)- The West African Health Organisation (WAHO), in collaboration with Agence Française de Développement (AFD), has launched the Human Resources in Public Health (HRPH) project aimed at strengthening public health capacity in francophone countries in West Africa, including Benin, Guinea and Togo.
The project, financed by the French Development Agency (AFD) to the tune of 4.5 million euros and implemented by Expertise France for a period of 4 years, aims, through the regional health organisation and the three partnership target countries, to contribute to reducing mortality in the face of health crises in West Africa by 2030.
The project will be based on a ‘One Health’ and gender-sensitive approach and will aim to develop the skills of health professionals in key areas, including preventing, monitoring and controlling epidemics; quantity and quality of human resources in public health; fight against communicable diseases; promoting community, maternal and child health; managing health emergencies; promoting gender equality and a multi-sectoral approach.
The project has two specific components: Implementation of robust and resilient development policies of HRPH in West Africa, and improving training provision for Public Health workers in the ECOWAS francophone region through increased support from National Public Health Institutions.
In his speech, Dr. Melchior Athanase C. J. AÏSSI, Director General of WAHO, said: ‘‘One of the major health challenges facing our community is the issue of human resources in health, which is now on the agenda of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.
“The new project to support the reinforcement of human resources in public health in ECOWAS French-speaking countries, implemented by AFD Group through Expertise France, is one of the credible solutions expected for the prevention, detection and management of health crises in the ECOWAS region.”
Speaking, Mr Xavier Muron, Director of AFD Abuja, said: ‘‘Through Expertise France, AFD Group is delighted to support West African countries’ capacities to anticipate and respond to public health emergencies. Investing in human capital is key to building health systems and institutions capable of dealing with future crises. This project supports one of the pillars of WAHO’s strategy, namely the implementation of attractive strategies for the retention, management, training and development of human resources in health.”
The First Counsellor of the French Embassy in Nigeria recalled in his speech that “one of France’s priorities in Global Health is to work with its partners to promote equitable, sustainable and resilient healthcare systems to better anticipate, prevent, prepare for and respond to public health emergencies and climate change, as part of a “One Health” approach. This project is a perfect illustration of this. It also demonstrates our strong partnership with regional institutions to achieve these shared objectives”.
The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) is a specialised agency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) charged with the attainment of the highest possible standard and protection of the health of the people in the sub-region through the harmonisation of the policies of the Member States, pooling of resources, and cooperation with one another and with others for collective and strategic combat against the health problems of the sub-region.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
