The management of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, has revealed that at least 150 nurses have resigned their appointments with the tertiary hospital in the last three years. During a media briefing in Lagos on January 9, 2022, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, who revealed it said that the situation arose as a result of health workers relocating abroad to practice. He noted that the exit replacement strategy of the government had ensured that operations were not disrupted at the hospital.
Also, he said that applications for positions of nurses and resident doctors have reduced in the hospital. Fabamwo said that the hospital now recruits double qualified nurses and also engaged some retired-but-not-tired nurses on contract basis to bridge the gaps. At the media briefing, he also spoke on the issue of bed space management. He said that the hospital was using a team of nurses called “monitoring crew” to ensure speedy transfer of stable patients from emergency units to wards.
Lagos partners eight firms to check quackery in hospitals.
Meanwhile, as part of the efforts aimed at checking avoidable deaths from quackery in the health sector, Lagos State Government has appointed eight private organizations through its Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) to monitor compliance of health facilities with standards across the state. The Board Chairman of the agency, Dr. Yemisi Solanke-Koya, said at the media briefing that the outsourcing of the monitoring for compliance by the organizations will commence immediately and be for six months of a pilot phase with the intent to review the process at the end of June 2023.
She said the organizations had all signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The objective is to increase the monitoring coverage for health facilities to improve quality of healthcare delivery to residents of the state. According to her, the private organizations were selected after due procurement process, with the organizations monitoring both public and private health facilities in the assigned local councils. She said that to ensure that the franchises live up to expectations, a comprehensive three-day training course was organized for them by the agency.
Ratio of health workers to the population is reducing.
Also, the Executive Secretary of HEFAAMA, Abiola Idowu, enjoined the hospitals across the state to access the health facility inspection tool on the website to do self-assessment and upgrade their operations as HEFAAMA’s officers continue to work with the private organizations. Idowu urged the franchise companies to continue to uphold and maintain the image of the agency to enhance efficient service delivery and that the public should report illegal operation or unprofessional conduct to the agency for prompt action.
It should be noted that there has been consistent brain drain in Nigeria, especially in the health sector. The recommended doctor-patient ratio around the world by the World Health Organization (WHO) is one doctor to 600 patients. However, Nigeria has a doctor-to-patient ratio of one doctor to 5000 patients. Health workers are relocating abroad in droves because of the low pay and the non-conducive working environment in Nigeria. When these health workers find better opportunities abroad, they do not think twice about it.
Allegedly sold COVID-19 vaccination cards without inoculation.
The CMD of LASUTH said that the ongoing construction of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) building with a 120-bed capacity in the hospital was at 90-percent completion stage. Speaking on the issue of one Solomon Oriere, who allegedly sold COVID-19 vaccination cards without inoculation, Fabamwo said that impostor was not a worker of LASUTH. He said Oriere had been arrested and is currently in police custody. He added that the public will be kept updated on the findings of the investigation.
Related Link
Wikipedia: Website
