Lagos affirms commitment to quality healthcare

Lagos state Commissioner for Health, Jide Idris has affirmed the state’s commitment to achieving sustainable and affordable healthcare delivery to reduce medical tourism.

To realise this feat, he said government is leveraging on technology and value driven goals to meet international standard.

He said this at the first International Nursing conference organised by Lead Nurse Africa International Foundation in collaboration with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

The Commissioner, who was represented by Assistant Head of Project unit, Dr. Tolu Ajomole, said the conference is needed to sensitise nurses on how things are practiced in the Western world to reduce the number of people that travel abroad to get medical attention. He added that nurses play critical leadership roles in ensuring a viable health care delivery system, which is geared towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The event was sponsored by Department of Nursing Science, University of Lagos, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH); Lagos Department of Nursing Lagos State University (LUTH); Alkint Services, London, United Kingdom; NaijAid, London, UK; and Vigour Health Drive, Atlanta, USA.

President, Lead Nurse Africa International, Collins Ogbolo, said to rejig the health system in the country, inter professional collaboration is required because government policies has lasting impact on the health system.

“We need to do a lot more to fill the gaps. Leaders and policy makers have to take proactive measures and transformational actions to ensure that fake drugs and people dying from curable diseases is stamped out. We have to bridge the power gap between the leaders and followers to ensure the inspiration flow,” he added.

He advised nurses to stop complaining and take positive actions to help people at the grassroots.

“Transformation leaders within the nursing profession are needed for their true value and contribution to be appreciated. This implies that they have been transformed by the experience of learning, working, and experience gathered to make changes in their jurisdiction,” he added.

Noting that nurses are often underrated and called for a change to this trend, he said the challenges that nurses encounter are access to health education and quality healthcare facilities to work with.

He advised nurses to implement what thy have been taught, and maintain cordial relationship with other persons to help leaders bridge the gap in the health sector.