On the 7th and 8th of November 2022, the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board (KNSPHCMB) conducted a 2-day validation workshop with support of Nigeria Health Watch. This workshop was aimed at reviewing and validating its draft PHC HRH Strategic plan and Costed Plan, towards addressing their HRH gaps.
These PHC HRH gaps had been identified following a profiling of 10 states of which Kano state was a part of. Following this profiling exercise, the NPHCDA through the BMGF Catalytic Grant engaged Sydani group to provide technical support for the development of a 10-year state-specific PHC HRH Strategic Plan to address these gaps.
The Kano State Primary Health Care (PHC) Human Resource for Health (HRH) Strategic Plan covers the state’s HRH management and development from 2022 to 2032. It was aimed at providing strategic guidance to the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board (KNSPHCMB), the Local Government Health Authority (LGHA), the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs and all other relevant implementing stakeholder for adequate HRH planning, development, management, and effective use of HRH. It focuses on improving the key strategic areas including HRH leadership and governance, size and distribution, production, retention, motivation and performance development, information system and financing.
The PHC HRH Strategic Plan forms the blueprint that reflects the broader Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goal and specifically, the state’s HRH priorities towards improved health service delivery at the community level. The Strategic Plan was developed based on the guiding principles of the national and state health acts, policies, and strategies, with an overall goal of contributing to the country’s goal of achieving UHC.
During the workshop, participants were divided into groups to validate and adopt the primary Health Care Human Resource for Health Strategic Plan for PHCs in Kano state.
While presenting the refined PHC HRH Strategic plan at the workshop, Oluomachukwu Omeje, an associate at Sydani Group, pointed out that for strategies such as this to be successful, some key factors are instrumental. “These factors include sound leadership, strong partnerships, evidence-based and cost indicative annual work plans, and finally feasible monitoring and evaluation mechanisms with measurable indicators.”
“We need to strengthen the production of all healthcare worker cadres to ensure a demand-supply link based on the Minimum Service Package (MSP) requirements. We must also continuously motivate and improve the performance of the Healthcare Workers (HCWs) towards ensuring retention in the PHC system. To achieve the set objectives and overall goal the KNSPHCMB will need to; disseminate the strategic plan document to all levels of government and partners including to His Excellency the Executive governor to ensure full buy-in and assure access to funding.”
