Kunle Awosiyan
Health workers in Lagos State and Nigeria have been advised to pay adequate attention and prioritise their health needs as they deliver health care services to citizens.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye who disclosed this at the Y2023 Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme organized by the Ministry of Health for Health Workers and allied staff in the Ministry, noted that improving quality of healthcare delivery and enhancing effective service delivery in the health sector are direct consequences of mental, physical health and well-being of health workers.
Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the five-day CME programme holding at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, CBD, Alausa, Ogboye encouraged health care professionals to pay adequate attention to their own health just as they give professional care to their patients, adding that maintain good health and well-being will go a long way in enhancing the much desired efficient and effective service delivery in the State health sector.
He said: “This five-day capacity building workshop themed: ‘Improving Quality of Healthcare Delivery’ is targeted at encouraging health care workers to prioritise their health needs as well as educate them on trending health issues that will enhance their productivity during the discharge of their duties.
“This capacity building exercise or workshop is in line with the direction that the Lagos State government wants to go in the development of its Workforce. The main objective is to build the capacity of our health workers, especially around trending topics such as issues around epidemics, writing proper reports, proper programs planning amongst others”
While noting that the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration in Lagos State remains committed to improving the well-being of its workforce, Ogboye assured that a the Lagos State government will continually improve the capacity of its health workforce through regular and appropriate training programs to improve the quality of health care delivery in the State. He added that government will not relent in putting in place policies and strategies geared towards the achieving Universal Health Coverage and fulfilling the health and environment mandate of the THEMES developmental agenda of the present administration.
While commending the facilitators and organisers of the training, the Permanent Secretary urged all participants to maximize the lessons learnt and practically apply them to their everyday life and in the discharge of their duties, assuring that it will be of immense benefits to health workers and the health sector.
Earlier, Director, Medical Administration, Training and Programs, Dr. Funmilayo Shokunbi reiterated that the capacity building is targeted at addressing the health needs of caregivers themselves so that the can discharge their duties optimally.
Dr. Shokunbi explained further that the state government recognizing the importance of having a smart workforce, has carefully selected topics that will add value to the health workers. She added that government has continued to ensure that health workers in the state are provided with conducive environment which will enhance their productivity.
“We are going to address the health needs of the care givers themselves. We are going to ensure that they are also loaded with knowledge information that will make them perform at their optimal level. We’re so ensuring that we put topics that will make them to relax. And all these are to ensure that they are happy with their work. When you’re happy, you are more productive”. She said.
Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri, Consultant Psychiatric who was a facilitator at the workshop explained that health care workers must always pay attention to their health and be able to know when they are not doing well health wise so that they can seek help as soon as possible.
