The West African Health Organisation (WAHO), the specialised health institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has finalised a harmonised regional benchmark to guide the establishment, accreditation and operation of health sciences training institutions across West Africa.
The Head of Training and Human Resources for Health at WAHO, Prof. Joseph Olorunda, announced this on Thursday at the end of a regional validation workshop attended by health experts from ECOWAS member states.
According to Olorunda, the benchmark sets the minimum standards required for establishing health sciences training institutions, running academic programmes and securing regional accreditation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that more than 65 academics and health professionals from across the 15-member ECOWAS bloc participated in the workshop to validate the guidelines aimed at harmonising the training of health workers in the region.
Olorunda said the benchmark had been finalised and would be uploaded to the WAHO website after the completion of the necessary administrative processes, enabling institutions and member states to access the document for self-assessment and accreditation.
He explained that institutions seeking WAHO’s support for the training of health professionals would be required to comply with the minimum standards outlined in the benchmark.
“Countries seeking regional accreditation can download the document, conduct a self-assessment and submit their applications through the approved process,” he said.
Also speaking, WAHO Liaison Officer for Nigeria, Dr Bosede Arogundade, said the benchmark would promote uniform standards in the training of health professionals across ECOWAS member states while supporting the free movement of qualified health workers within the sub-region.
She added that WAHO would continue to engage member states to facilitate the adoption and effective implementation of the regional benchmark.
