CONTRIBUTION OF GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED OVERSEAS POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME ON HUMAN RESOURCE CAPACITY BUILDING IN HEALTH SECTOR OF KANO STATE

Abstract

Manpower deficit has been identified as one of the major problems affecting health sector of Kano state. Efforts have been made over the past decades with a view to addressing the problem through overseas scholarship scheme. The paper examined the contributions of Government-sponsored Overseas Postgraduate Medical Scholarship (OPMS) on human resource capacity building in health sector of Kano state. Data was obtained from both primary and secondary sources which include questionnaire administration and interview with the actual beneficiaries of the scheme as well as implementation agencies. Relevant secondary sources were also used. The study has a total population of 909 but Krejcie and Morgan table for determining sample size was used to draw a sample of 274. Data was presented in tables and charts while the hypothesis was tested using regression analysis. Among the finding from the study revealed that overseas Postgraduate Medical Scholarship (OPMS) has significant effect on human resource capacity building (HRCB) in health sector of Kano state. Also, the finding from the study shows that OPMS has played a strategic role in not only enhancing the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences of the beneficiaries, but also had significantly helped in addressing the gap in the availability of health care personnel working in various hospitals in Kano state. Undergraduate medical scholarship (OUMS) has 0.903 (90.3%) effect on HRCB in health sector of Kano state. It was recommended
that in view of the significant contributions of OPMS to the health sector, the Kano state government should develop additional clinical practice roles that are considered a key component of contemporary workforce planning. Additional clinical practice role is
central to enabling the overseas medical returnees to transform service delivery and better use the experiences acquired through overseas to provide quality patients' care in a diverse clinical settings to meet local health needs of the people.