27th July, 2023
The Lagos State Government has charged its health-care personnel with improving health-care delivery through continual capacity development and resilience in the face of working realities.
This is contained in a press statement signed by Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, Director, Public Affairs.
Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, made the charge at the opening ceremony of a three-day State Continuing Medical Education session for health workers in Lagos State hosted by the Ministry of Health.
He stated that healthcare personnel must learn how to build resilience and increase their capacities in order to provide better health care.
Ogboye added that the Continuing Medical Education programme, titled “Improving Quality of Healthcare Service Delivery,” was thoroughly thought out in order to equip health workers for today’s circumstances and keep them up to date on best practises in health care.
“The Y2023 State Continuing Medical Education program with the theme: “Improving Quality Healthcare Delivery” was organized for health workers to boost their capacity and enhance effective service delivery in the health sector.
“This theme was carefully selected to set a landmark in providing quality health to the citizenry and I am particularly enthusiastic about the topics”, he said.
According to him, the Governor Sanwo-Olu-led administration recognises the importance of human capital development in achieving universal healthcare coverage, adding that Lagos is looking to develop the capacities of health care workers alongside preserving the physical and mental health of its health workforce.
“Beyond teaching, our healthcare workers must build their capacities to provide good quality services. We are also trying to preserve their mental and physical health.
“It is quite important that the career is also being cared for because most times we look at health workers as just people who care for other people, but we have come to realize that doctors, nurses and other health workers are just as vulnerable as other members of the society”. He said.
While officially launching the Y2023 State Continuing Medical Education programme, Ogboye stated that the State Government remains committed and determined to ensuring best practises in health care delivery and will continue to insist that the environment in which medical care is provided should be conducive to the promotion and maintenance of good health.
Professor Akin Osibogun, who delivered a lecture titled “Leading and Influencing Positive Changes in the Health Sector,” explained that good leadership in the health sector must be in tune with technological skills, high-quality managerial skills, and social skills in order to communicate and interact with stakeholders at all levels.
He stated that health-care leaders must always consider the next generation of leaders and must ensure that they train and develop the potential of their younger colleagues for critical leadership roles in order to have a good succession plan in health-care service delivery.
“A good leader in the health sector must be equipped with technological skills in the field, managerial skills that will enable him to plan, implement and evaluate programmes by following management processes and social skills to be able to communicate and interact with stakeholders at all levels”. He said.
Professor Osibogun encouraged all health care workers to move towards achieving a positive changes in health care service delivery as a positive change in health care delivery will enhance a sustainable health care delivery that will be of a great benefit to the citizenry
Earlier, the Director, Medical Administration, Training and Programs, Dr. Olufunmilayo Shokunbi explained that the CME programme is a capacity building strategy of the Government targeted at addressing the health needs of caregivers so that they can discharge their duties optimally.
She noted that the Lagos State Government recognizes the importance of having a smart workforce, and that is why the CME programme would be addressing carefully selected topics that will add value to health workers.
Shokunbi urged health workers in Lagos State to continue to avail themselves with necessary knowledge that will ultimately enhance their service delivery and wellbeing.
One of the participants at the programme, Dr. Tolu Ajomale, commended the Lagos State Government for being consistent in organizing the yearly CME programme and other strategic workshop for health worker.
He said that the training programme will avail participants the opportunity to learn, unlearn and relearn. He added that the listed topics are very apt for the current realities in the country and the health sector.