Minister calls for continuous training of Nigerian Health workers
By Sekinat Salam-Opebiyi, Abeokuta
Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire says there is need for continuous training and retraining of health workers to deliver quality health care services.
Dr Ehanire stated this when he represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the commissioning of the Muhammadu Buhari International Conference Centre and Telemedicine Hall at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, South West Nigeria.
He said; “We still get all too often for comfort, disconcerting reports of not friendly attitudes of staff to patients, reports of unhygienic and house keeping standards that leaves something to be desired even in the presence of sophisticated equipment and well qualified doctors.
“Such simple failings like this, are more frequently responsible for the loss of confidence of the end users in our health system than even the lack of equipment…They are the triggers for the distrust that will lead people to go on medical tourism.”
”We have a lot of work to do in that area and I want to believe that the managers of our hospitals after such laudable, fantastic infrastructure investment we now begin to pay attention, not only to improving staff harmony and welfare, but to retraining health care givers for even better professionalism that deliver service in a productive and courteous atmosphere based on the lessons we learnt from our traditional African hospitality.”
According to the Minister, ”the Nigerian Government is embarking on the infrastructure development of all its tertiary hospitals, to reposition them for quality health care delivery to the people.”
He also noted that the government is passionate about the health care delivery at the grassroot level, saying that the Primary Health Care Centres have been redesigned to operate for 24hrs.
“We are passionate about health care at the grassroot level and it is our policy to have one functional health care center in every ward of the country. We have redesigned the Primary Health Care Centers to no longer function as a dispensary that opens from 9am to 5pm local time, but as a center that is open 24hours a day,” he said.
The Tele-Medicine hall, is one of it’s kind in Nigeria, and is Equipped with the state of the art equipment.
Six other projects which includes, a Radiology complex with modern Diagnostic Equipment, an Oxygen plant, four-wing Clinic Complex, a Pharmacy complex and a patients Relatives Lodge were also commissioned at the health institution.
Lawan stated that the Nigerian government was building 10 bed Intensive care unit centres, 30 bed isolation centres and well equipped, functional molecular laboratories in every of the 52 Federal Medical Centres in Nigeria.
He promised that the bill on the establishment of the Ogun State University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta would be passed by the National Assembly before the end of April.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Ibrahim Oloriegbe represented the Senate President at the event.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila in his speech said, the projects were evidences of the fulfilment of promises made by the government and signified the continued progress of the Federal Medical Centre.
“These projects will allow the medical professionals to continue providing care and treatment to the sick and afflicted, conducting research that advances the cause of medical science and all together promoting the welfare and well-being of Nigerians.
“It is the cardinal responsibility to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of the people. Providing access to quality health care services that our people can afford is one way we serve their best interest,” Mr Gbajabiamila stated.
The Medical Director Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Professor Adewale Musa-Olomu said the centre has successfully performed more than 300 brain tumour surgeries since the establishment of the Neurosurgical and Cardiothoratic units.
Upgrade
Professor Musa-Olomu explained further that the hospital would be upgraded to a teaching hospital with the establishment of the University of Medicine and Medical Sciences.
The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun reiterated his government commitment to elevate the state’s health sector to be an envious one among other states in Nigeria.
Governor Abiodun assured the Federal Medical Centre of his continued support.
Other dignitaries at the event included; Former Governor, Olusegun Osoba, the Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Medical Directors of health institutions, Government officials among others.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
