Benue holds validation workshop on health workforce profile, registry data

Benue holds validation workshop on health workforce profile, registry data

By Johnson Arua


The Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), has convened a validation workshop on the Benue State Health Workforce Profile and Registry Information in Makurdi.

The workshop, held to review and authenticate comprehensive data on the state’s health workforce, marks a major step in strengthening health system planning and improving service delivery.

Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ejeh Ogwuche, described the exercise as a milestone aligned with Governor Hyacinth Iormen Alia’s vision for a healthier Benue.

He explained that with technical support from the WHO, the state had developed a detailed profile outlining the identity, distribution, skill mix, and service gaps among health workers at all levels of the sector.

According to him, the validation exercise signals a transition from data generation to meaningful application, stressing that data only delivers value when used to guide evidence-based decisions on workforce planning, deployment, and policy implementation.

“Once published,” Dr. Ogwuche noted, “the Benue State Health Workforce Profile will guide equitable posting of health workers, align training institutions with service needs, and enable government and partners to mobilize resources more effectively.”

The Commissioner commended the WHO for its sustained technical support, saying the partnership has laid a strong foundation for evidence-based reforms in the state’s health sector.

He urged participants to be constructive and forward-looking, adding that the outcome of the workshop should move the state closer to achieving a health workforce that is fit for purpose, resilient, and responsive to the needs of citizens.

Participants were drawn from the Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services, Benue State Primary Health Care Board, State Hospitals Management Board, health training institutions, local government health departments, professional associations, and development partners.

The workshop reflects the Alia administration’s commitment to leveraging data and evidence to improve the efficiency, equity, and quality of healthcare services across the state.