DRASA seeks funding, partnership to train 10,000 health workers yearly

TO increase the capacity of Nigeria’s healthcare workforce to tackle COVID- 19 and other infectious diseases, DRASA Health Trust has sought more funding, sponsorships and partnership from private and public sectors, individuals and organisations to train about 10,000 health personnel every year.

Its Managing Director, Niniola Williams, said though DRASA had done a lot of trainings, but needs to do more.

“We know COVID- 19 will not be the last infectious disease outbreak Nigeria will face, so, we are setting up Nigeria’s first ever Simulation Training Centre for Infection Prevention and Control. This will allow DRASA to train 10,000 health workers yearly to strengthen the health sector and prepare our hospitals and our borders from whatever public health threat that may come next,” she said.

Williams, who was also optimistic that the trainings would help keep health workers safe by reducing their chance of getting exposed to dangerous diseases, further stated: “We are so grateful for the support from well- meaning Nigerians and corporate entities who have partnered with us over the years but now in the face of the COVID- 19 emergency, we need more support to scale up our operations and ensure we have a trained and capable workforce to serve as Nigeria’s defence against the virus. We know this can be achieved through our collective effort. So, we would appreciate your donations, sponsorships and partnerships to help us get there. Together, we can safeguard Nigeria’s society and economy.”

While providing insight about her organisation, which was set up to sustain the legacy of the late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, she said since its inception,

DRASA had established various health programmes, including its flagship Infection Prevention and Control ( IPC) programme, which trains and equips health workers, saying: “The reason we focus on training and capacity building for health workers is because it is a big gap. There are many entities already investing in the infrastructure, equipment and supplies required to have a strong health system and contain COVID- 19, but few are focused on investing in human resources required to make the response a success. That’s where DRASA comes in.”