Prof. Chris Bode, the Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, on Thursday called for synergy and respect among medical professionals for them to achieve quality healthcare delivery.

Bode made the call at the 2015/2016 Matriculation of the LUTH School of Health Information Management in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 81 students including 34 National Diploma students and 47 Higher Diploma students of the school participated in the ceremony.

Bode, while commending the matriculating students on a career choice in Health Information Management, reminded them that no one was greater than the other in the medical profession.

“Everybody is important in the healthcare team, and unless we can work together as a team, we will be disbanded.

“It is important for you to learn how to work together by doing your best and respecting others in the healthcare team.

“Health Information Management (HIM) is an essential part of the healthcare team and no one is greater.

“If you do your work well, you do not need to tell others you are superior.

“The aim is for all of us to achieve a system of healthcare that will benefit Nigerians,” he said.

Bode said that the mission of the HIM had remained elevating the standards of clinical record-keeping in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

According to him, the profession has been concerned with effective management of clinical data and health records to ensure data confidentiality, integrity and availability in every type of healthcare setting.

“HIM professionals serve the healthcare industry and the public by managing, analysing and utilising the information vital for patient care and making it accessible to healthcare managers for planning,” Bode said.

Also speaking, the school’s Principal, Mr Taiwo Olofinluyi, identified the low level of awareness about the profession and slow pace of development as challenges facing the profession.

Olofinluyi said, “Because HIM came newly as a specialisation in medicine, it has not actually been embraced like any other fields of medicine.

“Also, the job is available, but many employers are not aware of the need to have health information managers.

“But, we now have an association which promotes the awareness and few employers are now seeing the need for it.”

The principal said that since the school’s inception in 1980, it had graduated no fewer than 1,000 students.

He said that since the programme was reviewed in 2,000, the school began to run programmes National and Higher Diplomas.

“Before then, we ran only certificates meant for those in the primary healthcare level.

“Now, we train those who will operate at the secondary and tertiary levels as part of enhancing the profession in order to deliver quality health service to patients, ” he said.

In his remarks, a Consultant Endocrinologist, Dr Olufemi Fasanmade said that there was the need for a healthcare system in Nigeria where all cadres and professions under health were united for the benefit and progress of healthcare.

Fasanmade, who is the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, LUTH, said that this was necessary for the benefits of all patients.

“Also, when there is unity, we can improve on all our indices which, currently, the nation is not doing too well in,” he said.

A matriculating student, Mr Victor Adewopo, who spoke to NAN, said that he would like to contribute to making changes and improving the nation’s healthcare system.

“That is why I am here today getting the training that I need and I am optimistic that with the training, I will be able to contribute to the healthcare system of the country, ” he said.

Another student, Miss Rosemary Esede, said HIM was under recognised and many believed only doctors and nurses were the only professionals in the medical field.

“Health information is really important for doctors, because without information, doctors cannot work properly.

“I believe health information improve healthcare and planning, because most times people need information about their health status and that is where HIM comes in to give people the information they need, ” she said.