Mohammed Dahiru Lawal
The Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila has convened a healthcare intervention initiative which trained over 65 health workers in Kano with the aim to strengthen their capacity for effective service delivery and professionalism.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 3-days workshop themed, “Improving Patient’s Outcome Through Ethical Conduct and Professionalism in the Covid Era,” the speaker reaffirmed the Commitment of the National Assembly in ensuring Ethical Conduct and Professionalism among Health Workers in order to enhance the health status of the common people.
Mr. Gbajabiamila said that the programme will reawaken the health workers to the seriousness of their duties and the need for them to adhere to ethical principles and standards.
The second in the series of the Speaker’s National Health Programme, the workshop was also to instill in health workers a diligent attitude when attending to patients and to remind them of the legal rights of patients in the case of an injury caused as a result of medical negligence.
Speaking at the event held at Bristol Palace Hotel Kano, Mr. Gbajabiamila said “Our gathering here today is an effort to support the work of healthcare professionals in our country by providing training and support to ensure that you have the skills to navigate the issues of ethics and professionalism that are integral to your continued effectiveness in the business of saving lives.”
While recognizing the commitment, dedication and sacrifices of the health workers, the Speaker, represented by the Chairman House Committee on Pensions, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, assured that “delivering a working healthcare system that takes into proper account the issue of healthcare access and quality and the welfare of health professionals remains a priority for the 9th House of Representatives.
“Over the last two budget cycles, we have significantly increased the sums allocated for healthcare in the federal budget. We will continue in this regard. The House has also been at the forefront of engaging with healthcare unions to ensure that the welfare of health officers remains a governing priority. We will also continue in this regard.”
In a remark, Governor Umar AbdulLahi Ganduje, represented by his Chief of Staff, Ali Haruna Makoda, thanked the Speaker for choosing Kano State for the second leg of the health training, having held the maiden edition in Lagos last November.
He said healthcare remained a top priority of the State Government, a reason such a workshop was a welcome development to the state, adding that the government would continue to prioritize healthcare issues.
In a welcome address, the Chief of Staff to the Speaker, Alhaji Sanusi Garba Rikiji, expressed delight that the participants at the workshop turned out en-masse.
Rikiji said healthcare delivery was at the heart of the Speaker, noting that he had dedicated a lot of time to attend to such issues, including ensuring increased budgetary allocations.
Also speaking, the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, represented by the Director of Medical Services in the ministry, Dr. Shehu Usman Abdullahi, noted that both the Speaker and Governor Ganduje shared the same vision for the health sector.
In a goodwill message, the President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Professor Innocent Ujah, eulogised the Speaker for being at the forefront of healthcare issues.
He said that all the interventions of the Speaker in the area of healthcare, adding that the association would continue to support him in whatever way possible.
Part of the session covered at the workshop include achieving quality care through ethical principles, effective communication in healthcare, risk management and professional liability and duty of care breach of duty and damages through case law.
Others are exodus of healthcare workers in Nigeria-it’s impact on an already fragile system, leadership and teamwork in healthcare and vaccination and immunization lawsin COVID-19 era: human rights controversies.
The Speaker had organised a similar national health programme in Lagos last November where many health workers were trained for better service delivery.
