Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker has reiterated the government’s determination to promote professionalism among the medical workforce and strengthen their capacity building to enhance operational efficiency.

Coker made this known in Ijebu-Ode at the opening of a three-day strategic retreat organised for heads of secondary healthcare facilities across the State. She said the programme would enable them to be acquainted with clinical governance, technology-driven innovations, and effective financial management that would transform the health system of the State.

The Commissioner added that a clear understanding of innovative strategies would reinforce the present administration's vision on the provision of efficient health care services to the citizenry, explaining that heads of various facilities who are majorly Medical Doctors are recognised as representatives of government, enjoining them to be the drivers of good practices in their facilities, and make the welfare of other staffers paramount.

In her words, “It is of utmost importance that our staffers are properly appraised with the standard protocols of service delivery to avoid irregular patterns that will not meet international best practices. “It is also rewarding to note that when people are valued, it brings productivity, which will invariably result in progress over years.  However, there is a need to do more to maximise the gains already recorded and to close the gaps on the lapses", Coker said.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Iziaq Salako reiterated that Medical Doctors have a moral obligation to uplift the status of their facilities financially, noting that the retreat is a veritable platform to deliberate on the challenges encountered in the course of discharging their duties and charting a new course to solving them.

Contributing, Permanent Secretary of the Board, Dr. Quudus Yusuff, said it is imperative for stakeholders in the health facilities across the State to collectively ensure judicious use of resources and abide by the ethics of their professions.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, the Chief Medical Director, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, and Head of General Hospital, Imeko Afon, Dr. Olubunmi Fatungase and Dr. Olaolu Odunaike respectively, commended the organiser for the training, calling for the annual session of the training and extend it to other cadres of the health sector.