Accra, Ghana — Women’s health leaders play a key role in building the resilience of communities and health systems. In Ghana, women are key leaders at all levels of the health sector, making health systems more responsive to people’s needs.
World Health Organization (WHO) receives support from the UK Government through the Department of Health and Human Services (UK-DHSC) to strengthen the capacity of women leaders and managers in the health sector to deliver a stronger health system in Ghana is receiving ) organized the capacity building of female health leaders as part of the Health Workforce Programme.
The in-person training is part of the four-month WHO Pathway to Leadership for Health Transformation programme, which strengthens the capacity of health leaders to lead the health sector’s transformation agenda. Initially designed for WHO employees, the training was later expanded to WHO Member States in response to a request by the Minister of Health at the 70th Session of the WHO Regional Commission for Africa.
This all-female trainee group is the third cohort of health trainers to undergo leadership training in Ghana, fulfilling the Ministry of Health’s agenda to allocate 60% of this training opportunity to women.
Leadership for Health Transformation aims to provide the high-level leadership and strategic support needed to enable senior health leaders to transform health outcomes in their countries.
“Stereotypes continue to affect the growth and influence of women health leaders, resulting in leadership gaps. and position women’s health leaders,” said Dr Francis Kasoro, WHO’s representative to Ghana, in a speech at the Women’s Health Leaders Training.
For women’s health leaders, this training will develop the most powerful skills and cutting-edge understanding of what is required to manage available resources to achieve Ghana’s strategic health priorities. has been strengthened.
“This innovative leadership training has provided me with a clear path to becoming a strategic leader. I have learned how to create an environment that enhances team performance,” said Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Blood Service. One Dr. Shirley Owusu O’Fori says: “We intend to institutionalize mentorship and support for his members on the team because this is an effective way to get the most out of his members on the team.”
“The lesson here is clear. It guides my work,” added Dr. Gifty Amugi, Deputy Director of Public Health for the Western Region.
Participants also commit to using the knowledge gained in the training to develop the next generation of leaders.
“This training was really transformative for me,” said Mrs. Vivian Addo Cobbiah, Deputy Chief Operations Officer for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). “I am equipped with the perfect guide to building effective teams and developing the next generation of leaders in the health sector.”
Since 2021, a total of 81 senior health managers in three cohorts have benefited from the leadership of the Health Transformation Program. WHO remains committed to fostering an environment that enables high-level women’s leadership to spearhead national and global efforts to transform health outcomes.