NO less than 100 health professionals in Onitsha, Anambra state have undergone hands-on skills training in various health fields including Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, CPR, proper usage of a defibrillator machine, and the use of an Epinephrine pen for anaphylaxis or severe allergic reactions.

At the training sessions conducted by the Anambra Business Coalition, ABC, a Public Private Partnership, of the Anambra State government in collaboration with RISE Health Corporation, RHC, a US-based organisation represented locally by RISE Clinic Nigeria at Adazi-Ani in Anaocha LGA,

The training was aimed at boosting manpower development in the health sector, in preparation for the challenges ahead in the health sector reforms in the state,under a Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and RHC.

Speaking at the event, the state Governor, Willie Obiano, said it was also to stem the tide of “brain drain phenomenon” which is presently at an alarming proportion and which led to the exodus of highly skilled healthcare professionals out of the country to seek greener pasture, and also to institute proper training arrangement to boost manpower development within the health sector in the state.

Obiano acknowledged the fact that the state’s health professionals drifting to the developed countries were looking for greater career opportunities, higher salary scale and better living conditions, which explained why the state administration is out to find a lasting solution to the challenge.

which he said is currently crippling the country’s health sector as it leads to a deficiency of qualified healthcare workers to properly carter for the growing population.

Obiano said as one of the primary objectives of the Hospital Re-engineering Project, HRP, the newly established Anambra Business Coalition, ABC, was designed to provide over 30,000 professional training hours to build the healthcare workforce in the state by the end of 2017.

The programme, supervised by Chief Executive Officer, RISE Clinic Nigeria, and Dr. Hien Tran, Vice-President, RISE Health Corporation, USA, kicked weekend at White Castle Hotel, Neni, Anaocha LGA, when the ABC hosted its maiden Basic Life Support trainings for over 100 healthcare professional students and community members.

Participants from different communities including Orumba North, Ogbaru and Anaocha LGA received e area received training from experts Neurology Unit at Eden Medical Center in Northern California.