Benin/Regional health cooperation: Towards harmonized training curricula for health-related disciplines

The Minister of Health and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Prof. Benjamin HOUNKPATIN, has launched a workshop to harmonize curricula for specialized training in health-related disciplines in ECOWAS member countries. This important regional meeting, supported by the West African Health Organization (WAHO), kicked off on Monday March 2 in Cotonou.

The vast project to harmonize training curricula for health professionals in the sub-region is continuing apace under the leadership of the regional organization. This large-scale project, which aims to build a uniform training ecosystem for the states of the sub-region in the health field, is now taking shape for disciplines associated with health.

At the end of this important workshop, which brought together key players from the academic world, a revised and harmonized framework will be defined to serve as a compass for health training establishments in the sub-region. For the Director of WAHO, the issue of training is a sub-regional priority.

Over the years, the organization he heads has taken a number of initiatives, including harmonizing 58 training programs, drawing up a regional training plan, providing financial support to member states and awarding several grants. This workshop, he emphasized, is in line with the previous ones, and aims to reinforce the consideration of training issues at sub-regional level.

In his opening address, the Minister of Health, Higher Education and Scientific Research suggested that this regional meeting goes beyond the academic framework, as it is redrawing the future of the sub-region's healthcare system.

The harmonization of training standards is, for the ministerial authority, an essential prerequisite for the well-being of the region's populations, as it will ensure that human resources are well-trained and ready to practice with competence, responsibility and professionalism. While reaffirming the commitment of the Government of Benin to support the harmonization process, he urged stakeholders to be more attentive to current changes. "In a rapidly changing world marked by sustained technological progress, artificial intelligence and distance learning, training standards must adapt to enable the sub-region to keep pace," said Professor Benjamin HOUNKPATIN.

Source: www.gouv.bj/