HEALTH
SANWO – OLU ASSURES MEDICAL
PRACTIONERS BETTER WELFARE PACKAGES
BY CHIDINMA OLU and IFEOMA IFESIOKWU
His
excellency, the executive Governor of Lagos State Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo –
Olu has assured medical practitioners better welfare packages in the state.
Speaking on his behalf the freshly appointedHon. Commissioner of Health Prof.
Akin Abayomi as the chief host at the Association of General and Private
Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN) Lagos State Chapter Annual General
Meeting and Scientific Conference 2019 with the theme: Who Cares for Carers:
Gap in the Health Reforms Strategies at Radission Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos told
the audience that the executive governor of Lagos State has noted the gaps in
human resources in the health sector adding that the funding to the health
sector is extremely low.
Speaking
again to the audience the Hon. Commissioner of health, Lagos State Prof. Akin
Abayomi said that there is something clearly wrong with the system hence the
Abuja Declaration of 2014 that 15% of state budget be allocated to the ministry
of health, but, very sadly, he noted that only 8% of the budget gets allocated
to the ministry of health which again he revealed to the audience that even the
8% out of the 15% budgetary allocation is not fully utilized by the ministry of
health. He queried if the 8% of the budgetary allocation is not utilized, how
then would the powers that be within the ministry of health request for more
funds to function at full capacities in all ramifications.
Speaking
again to the participants Prof. Abayomi said that the executive governor of
Lagos State Sanwo – Olu is in the know that there is heavy brain drain of
medical practitioners mostly medical doctors in the land. He also noted that
something radically got to be done to reduce the factorsthat push the doctors
and other health practitioners to go abroad for better welfare packages.
He
told the participants that the executive governor of Lagos State Sanwo – Olu
had noted the demography profile of Lagos state as in slums areas, clean
portable drinking water, pressure on the housing system as well as mental
health of the people of Lagos state adding that Town Planners, Logistic,
Transport, Housing, Environment are the issues the government of Lagos State is
seriously attending to so that an enabling conducive environment would be
provided for the citizenry of Lagos state.
Speaking
further Prof. Abayomi said that the brain drain of medical doctors and other
health practitioners could be drastically reduced if there is job satisfaction
for the carers who care for the patients at different level of health sectors
i.e Primary health sectors, Secondary health sectors, and Tertiary health
sectors.
Speaking
to the participants the chairman of the occasion Rt. Hon. Mudasiru Obasa,
Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly said that he generally concurred intadem
with all the expose that were marshalled out by the executive governor of Lagos
state Sanwo – Olu through the Prof. Abayomi Hon. Commissioner of health Lagos
state that adequate welfare packages be put in place for medical doctors and
other health practitioners so that the issue of brain drain be curtailed adding
that if adequate workable welfare packages are marshal out that the medical
doctors and other health workers would render their abilities in the service of
humanity.
Speaking
to the audience with his welcome speech as the chairman AGPMPN Lagos State and
as well as host Dr. Tunji Akintade, said that he is particularly delighted to
have as special guest of honour to the AGPMPN 2019 AGM/ Scientific Conference
and office of the executive governor of Lagos state Sanwo – Olu adding that it
could be an appreciation of their role as the service providers to
complementing the wonderful duty of the state health services.
Speaking
again he said that pulling the first citizen and the third citizen of the state
to their event speaks volume adding that the administration of the governor
Sanwo – Olu is heavily committed to the health service in the state. He says
that the entire membership of AGPMPN accord a big thank you sir governor. And
again, he said that this is equally the best opportunity to appreciate His
excellency Sanwo – Olu for appoint the Hon. Commissioner of Health to serve in
his cabinet adding that the success and achievement in health service delivery
in Lagos state had been the good collaboration between the state ministry of
Health and private sector. And, again Dr. Akintade said that the topic of their
AGM / Scientific Conference has been carefully chosen to assess the gaps in the
strategic plans of health reforms and if these are thoroughly looked into
should address the followings;
·
The gaps in Human Resources for Health
·
It has the capacity to revert the brain drain into brain
gain.
·
It will equally improve health indices.
·
It will give better health outcome and
·
Finally it will enable pool of inadequate fund to be re –
directed to equally demanding area of the economy.
Dr.
Akintade said that they are equally appreciating their guest who had always
been with them during the thick and thin period especially their wives adding
that they are looking to host the National AGM in March next year 2020 tagged
“EKO EXCELLENCE 2020” where the first Lady Her Excellency Dr. (Mrs.) Sanwo –
Olu is expected to host all doctors in the entire federation.
Speaking
further in his own words (Your Excellency, I have the permission of the entire
elders and members of this Association to make some request. It is a sad news
to know that we have been unable to contract and build a model secretariat for
this Association. We have a property located in a mixed developed area of Ogba
– Agege and its equally a good news that the 1st and 3rd
citizen of the state will in addition to declaring the event open. Your
Excellency will equally be expected to unveil the model of the building on the
said property. It is my hope that the state will take total charge of
completing the building and that credit will be to this administration. Our
appreciation gesture shall be made secret for now).
Speaking
as the guest speaker to the eclatic gathering former Chairman Medical Advisory
Committee (CMAC) Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Dr. Ayoade Adedokun
pleasantly delivered his lecture with the aids of slides so that participants
would grasp fuller knowledge of the theme of AGM / Scientific Conference. And
of a truth he did not disappoint the audience with his lucid choice of good
English all through the said presentations. When he rose up from his
presentations, he was roundly accorded a standing ovation for his excellent
deliveries. Questions were fielded to him and he too gladly provided answers
for the grey areas to be fully understand.
Good
will messages were taken from many authorities, but, the chairman of Nigerian
Medical Association of Lagos State Chapter Dr. Saliu Oseni did give an
inspiring good will message to buttress the theme of the event. The Hon.
Commissioner of health on behalf of the executive governor of Lagos State Sanwo
– Olu unveiled the pro – type architectural master piece design of the model of
AGPMPN Secretariat to the glory of God and in the service of humanity and he
pleasantly declared the event open.
Speaking
with journalists the Rt. Hon. Obasa, Speaker of the most vibrant house of
Assembly in the republic said that he is gladdened that the model secretariat
of AGPMPN would be named after him. He said that he would mobilize uncommon
supports to make sure the projects get completed in a good record time adding
that the welfare of medical doctors and other health workers really got to be
looked into so that the brain drain stuff could be curtailed for the public
good of all and sundry. He said that when doctors and other medical
practitioners are cared for with all the basic elements for them to function
optimally, hence, there would not be any need of going abroad to work.
Speaking
with media the NMA Chairman, Lagos State Chapter Dr. Oseni said that brain
drain is affecting the health sector whereby a medical doctor is over worked
with seeing many patients on a daily basis adding that he as a consultant sees
more than 40 patients, which is not supposed to be like that. He said some
medical doctors drop dead while on duty owing to poor facilities and lack of
basic incentives. He said that the powers that be should provide opportunities
for car loans, housing loans, increase call duty allowances and as well as pay
good salaries.
He
commended the executive governor of
Lagos state on his 100 days administration that in 100 days health issues were
addressed adding that he believes the amiable governor whose spouse is also a
medical doctor would improve the welfare packages of the medical
practitioners.
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