Oyo Health Ministry Collaborates with FHDSIL to Train Geriatric Caregivers*

The Oyo State Ministry of Health, in partnership with First Health Dynamic Synergy International Limited (FHDSIL), has launched a 25-day intensive training program aimed at equipping individuals with the skills necessary to provide quality care for the elderly. The program commenced on March 24, 2025, at the Simeon Adebo Staff Development Centre, State Secretariat, Ibadan.

Declaring the training open, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ajetunmobi Oluwaserimi called on participants at the training program to carry out their duties with passion, commitment, and a sense of responsibility. She emphasized that caregiving is a vital service that requires dedication, patience, and empathy, noting that every individual will eventually age and may need care at some point in life.

The Commissioner said the training has become increasingly important due to the increasing population of older persons in Nigeria and other developing countries.

Speaking further at the training, Dr. Ajetunmobi reminded participants that caregiving is more than just a job; it is a calling that demands both skill and compassion. She encouraged them to approach their responsibilities wholeheartedly, ensuring that those under their care receive the support, dignity, and attention they deserve.

“Caregiving involves a lot, and it must be done with passion. It is not just about providing assistance but also about showing empathy and making a difference in people’s lives,” she stated.

Professor Temitope Alonge, the Managing Director of First Health Dynamic Synergy International Limited, while addressing journalists at the commencement of the 25-day geriatric caregivers training, said that the training program is aimed to raise professional geriatric caregivers in social care skills, who will help older adults and their families navigate the complexities of aging and caregiving, offering support in areas like care planning, service coordination, and advocacy.

“ The number of older persons in the world is increasing and Oyo State is not exempted, they used to constitute about 4-5% of the total population, but it is moving up now they are close to about 7.5% of the total population, it is estimated that by the year 2050 we’ll have about 30 million older persons in Nigeria.

Professor Alonge said the Oyo state government and FHDSIL partnered to train interested individuals to be geriatric caregivers because nowadays, older persons are prone to their own kind of problems, having problems that are peculiar to them on account of age and wear and tear of their body systems.

He added that eventually, the care of older persons will become a major issue in developing countries, and as such, the training was to help Nigeria and other developing countries prepare manpower ahead of time for this.

Additionally, trainees are expected to learn courses, which include system reviews, a review of all the systems in the human body: Neurological and gastrointestinal. They are also expected to go through infection control, infection management, and infection prevention. Other courses include Management of Caregivers and Hurts of Older Persons.

He added that, during the training, the lecturers are expected to examine their caregivers themselves, said this will be done to understand their mindset and prepare them for the challenges that they will go through. It is stated that there will also be role plays, and that’s practical to see how these things are done in real life.

Expected lecturers include USA-certified Greratical phymarsits. Others include professors and senior lecturers, specialists from the physical wards of the University of Ibadan.

He assured that all certified caregivers would be gainfully employed without traveling overseas as many older persons in Nigeria are looking for these caregivers far more than the outside.

“ The demand is actually far more than what we’re looking for; if these people complete their training, I can assure you that before they complete their training, they will have a place where they can work”. Prof. Alonge stated.

The geriatric caregivers training, a certificate course organized by First Health Dynamic Synergy International Limited in conjunction with Oyo state Ministry of Health is a 25-day intensive training starting from 24th March to end on 17th of April 2025. The second phase is expected to come up in the month of May.

All interested individuals should wait for advertisements for online applications.