By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

Stakeholders on improved Health Care Services in Kaduna State have recommended strategies for improved Human Resources for Health (HRH) retention in the State.

The strategies were presented at the Kaduna State Policy Dialogue on RMNCAH-N with the theme, “Investing in Primary Health Care to Address Maternal and Child Health Mortality in Kaduna State”, organised by Legislative Advocacy Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL) on Thursday, November 24, 2022, in Kaduna.

The Commissioner of Health, Kaduna State, Dr. Amina Baloni, in her paper tagged: “Investing in Human Resources for Health Along the Continuum of Care of Fast Track Improvements in Maternal and Child Health Indices in Kaduna State,” lamented that the rate of attrition was very high, as 20 per cent of doctors and 5 per cent of nurses leave the service every year via various means, including resignation, retirement and abscondment.

Dr. Bolani said one of the strategies for HRH retention is the balancing of health workers distribution by qualification, need, gender equity, inclusion of people with special needs and experience across health facilities and levels of care in the state.

According to the Commissioner, another strategy was maintaining periodic establishment plan within the State Ministry of Health and its parastatals.

“Improvements in working and living conditions of staff in undeserved areas as well as staff redistribution based on workload analysis.

“Another strategy is the selective recruitment and training for practice in undeserved areas and task shifting,” Baloni disclosed.

Executive Secretary of State Primary Health Care Development Board (SPHCDB), Kaduna State, Dr Hamza Abubakar, in his paper: "RMNCAH-N Intervention in Kaduna(Response, progress, gaps and advocacy priorities for RMNCAH-N in Kaduna)" represented by the Director, Family and Community Health Services, Dr Neyu Iliyasu, said mobility prevalence of Malnutrition was at 48.1 per cent and Malaria, 33 per cent among children under five years in Kaduna State which, according to him, was higher than the national average and Diarrhea prevalence which is also as high as 11.8 per cent.

“Other challenges include stock outs, delayed cash backing, data challenge from private sector, last mile distribution funds, HRH (quality and quantity) and registration as vulnerable (BHCPF and SCHIS),” the Executive Secretary said.

Among strategies he recommended for tackling these challenges include improved quantification and forecasting, as well as prioritising commodity procurement by government.

Chairman, Evidence Committee of Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism (KADMAM), Abdulrahaman A. Mikail, in his paper titled, “Citizens’ Perspective on RMNCAH-N Interventions, Progress and Challenges in Kaduna State”, described KADMAM as “a catalyst that stimulates change through strengthening and holding institutions and decision-makers accountable for better health outcomes through quarterly #Openkadunahealthsector, among other platforms that regularly engage policy makers.”

•PHOTO: Participants at the Kaduna State Policy Dialogue on RMNCAH-N organised by Legislative Advocacy Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL), in Kaduna. PHOTO: Garba Muhammad