The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Nasarawa State Hospitals Management Board (NSHMB), Dr Egba Edogo, has advised health workers to always ensure proper treatment of patients and their relations due to the sensitive nature of their job.

He gave the advice recently during a meeting of key management staff of all facilities under the management of NSHMB, while noting that their “attitude towards work in relation to patients’ rights and their relations is key, as it speaks volumes about them as well as their facilities owing to the nature of their job.”

A statement by NSHMB Information Officer Bilkisu Adamu quoted Dr Edogo as stating that he gave similar advice during his recent visitation to all facilities under the purview of the Board.

“He advised that health workers should strive to treat their patients and patients’ relations with utmost care and dignity,” Ms. Adamu said in the statement.

She also quoted the CMD as disclosing during the meeting held at the Board Headquarters in Lafia that “efforts are ongoing by the state government to improve on the funding of the health care sector.

“Owing to the end of NSHIP project, he announced that, in the interim, bailout funds will be disbursed to facilities from the savings each facility has made from the NSHIP project over time. He added that work plans will be designed and approved appropriately before authorization for withdrawal be given, mentioning that monitoring and supervisory visits will be done to checkmate excesses and provision of on the spot support where necessary.

“The CMD also said that as a way of adherence and compliance with the guidelines of the present government in the establishment of State Bureau for Procurement to ensure due process and maintenance of standard in procurement processes, he has created a procurement unit with a focal person at the Board Headquarters. More so, Dr. Egba said he also appointed a focal person for National/State Health Insurance Unit, directing that same should be replicated at the facility level. He also announced the introduction of zonal interactive meetings among medical superintendents to enhance share learning and foster unity amongst them,” the statement said.

In a related development, Dr Edogo has reminded Laboratory Scientists of the “very crucial role they play to ensure diagnosis before treatment is administered.”

He gave the reminder on March 22, 2021 while receiving the leadership of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, Nasarawa State Branch, which paid him a courtesy visit.

“He advised that they should always try and call his attention when necessary and seek dialogue on pressing issues than resulting to industrial action,” according to Ms. Adamu in the statement.

She said that in his speech, the State Chairman of the association, MLS Kyari Caleb, “appreciated the CMD for granting them audience and congratulated him on his well-deserved appointment. He added that his appointment was due to his hard work, personality and wealth of experience in the medical profession as a renowned Consultant.”

MLS Caleb, according to the statement, used the opportunity to make a case for the employment of more Medical Laboratory Scientists in NSHMB and the upgrading of the standard of medical laboratories in general hospitals across the state.

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