The need for a new generation of talented leaders to drive growth in Africa's health sector has become crucial.

Against this backdrop, 26 health personnel are taking part in a workshop dubbed: “Leadership for health systems transformation in developing countries.”

The week-long workshop by the Mastercard Foundation Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative seeks to equip participants with the requisite skills to drive transformative growth in the health sector.

The Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation seeks to advance healthcare in Africa through three pillars: Health Employment, Health Entrepreneurship and Health Ecosystem.

The Health Entrepreneurship pillar aims to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and culture that supports entrepreneurs to create meaningful innovations and employment opportunities in the health sector.

The Health Ecosystem pillar also aims to train and prepare a new generation of talented professionals with the broad sets of skills required to drive equitable and inclusive growth.

The Health Employment pillar also aims to expand and improve current capacities to train primary healthcare workers. This workshop is under the auspices of the health employment pillar.

Already, 60 persons have been trained in Health Impact Assessment, Healthcare Industry and Regulatory Affairs.

The Principal Investigator of the Mastercard Foundation Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative, Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo said: "Leadership for Health Sector Transformation in Developing countries will give you a chance to go out there and be that change. To go out there and run with a vision. To step out of this workshop with a transformed mind, with a deeper sense of service and a hope that we can transform our health sector as transformative leaders."

“The good news is that for the next five years, we shall run these courses, giving room for many more communities, sub-districts, districts, and regions to be impacted by people like you,” he added.

The lead of the Health Employment pillar, Dr. Kofi Akohene Mensah mentioned that the course has received accreditation from various professional bodies.

"Medical and Dental Council gave us 22, Allied Health Professionals Council 20, Pharmacy Council 4 and Nursing and Midwifery Council gave us 20," he said.