The outgoing Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Meta, Lagos, Dr Adedamola Dada, has emphasised the need for organisations to prioritise collaboration and teamwork as vital tools for fostering a shared vision and boosting productivity across institutions.
Dada made this known during his send-off, where he reflected on his eight-year tenure, which began on July 6, 2017. He described teamwork as an essential value that gives workers a sense of belonging and leads to measurable institutional growth, especially in the healthcare sector.
According to him, upon assuming office, he cited several operational and infrastructural challenges, which prompted his administration to adopt a strategic framework built on five critical pillars: human resource development, service quality improvement, expansion of infrastructure and services, effective financial management, and the deployment of technology to drive efficiency and quality.
“These pillars formed the bedrock of our progress,” he said. “The results attracted institutions across the healthcare and education sectors, including the Lagos Business School, to send their staff and students to the hospital for training.”
Dada stated that such trainings were provided free of charge as part of the hospital’s Corporate Social Responsibility. He maintained that all trainees were required to adhere strictly to the hospital’s standard operating procedures to ensure quality outcomes.
He said the hospital witnessed significant advancements, including the increase in bed capacity from 72 to 450, the establishment of over 18 major departments staffed by 90 specialist consultants and 200 categories of doctors, and the acquisition of 16 dialysis machines during his tenure.
He noted that the hospital also installed about 20 incubators for neonatal care though sometimes inadequate due to rising demand as well as completed a cancer centre which is currently awaiting presidential commissioning.
The hospital, Dada said, now receives about 3,000 to 5,000 new patient registrations daily, with an overall daily patient volume of 25,000 to 30,000. “It’s a highly functional hospital that has opened its doors to all Nigerians and all of Lagos.”He also cited the hospital’s ability to generate 20 to 22 hours of electricity daily despite rising diesel costs as a notable achievement.
In recognition of its operational standards, the hospital was declared the most standard-compliant healthcare facility in Lagos State by the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) in 2022. Other recognitions include the “Trailblazer Award” from the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, the “Public Tertiary Hospital of the Year” by Safe Care, and a national award for leveraging ICT to enhance healthcare quality.
On the challenges faced, the outgoing CMD said persistent issues include limited space and power supply, while describing the COVID-19 pandemic as the most daunting period for the hospital. He added that the #EndSARS protests also created operational strain, as many staff members were unable to access the hospital, leaving a few overwhelmed workers to carry on.
He underscored the importance of self-care in healthcare delivery, stressing that it enhances service quality and ensures that patient needs are met in a personalised and effective manner.
