FTHL CMD admonishes outgoing House Officers on excellence, ethics

 

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja (FTHL), Dr Olatunde Alabi, has urged the outgoing house officers of the hospital to strictly adhere to principles of medical ethics and excellence in their future endeavors.

Alabi gave the advice during the FTHL's House Officers' Forum (HO forum) Dinner and Award night in Lokoja.

The CMD, who was represented by the Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Dr Ojochide Ebune, commended the forum for the initiative in putting the week-long activities together through team work.

"We commend your initiative and wishing you the best in your future endeavors. We urge you to focus on excellence, commitment to patient care and the ethics of our profession.

"As young doctors, if you can be disciplined and focused, the opportunities available to you in your future are endless," he said.

The CMD stressed the need for the young doctors to focus on defining a path for their career which could only be influenced by their commitment to excellence and dedication to the ethics of the profession.

According to him, medical ethics encompass the obligations health care professionals have to ensure patients' overall well-being and to respect their fundamental rights.

He, therefore urged the house officers to decide early on what they want, and be professional in whatever they do, which would serve them in their career path in life.

Speaking on the award received, the CMD described the gesture as an encouragement and a charge to do more for the institution and for the delivery of quality healthcare to the people of Kogi State.

On his part, Dr Kenneth Nwafor, the House Officers' Representative, FTHL, said the maiden edition of the House Officers' Week was a way of giving back to the society.

"The dinner and award night is to crown the week-long event by appreciating those who have been of tremendous support to the forum especially the management of FTHL and to the society at large.

"It is a moment of reflection on our activities for one year houseman-ship training at FTHL," Nwafor said.

In her opening remarks, Dr Nwamaka Chizaram Onubogu, the Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC), said the inaugural FTHL HO week began with a collaborative effort to mark the World Blood Donation Day 2024, where volunteers gathered to learn about blood donation. 

"This event culminated in the donation of over 30 units of blood, contributing significantly to the healthcare success at our center.

"We officially kick-started the program on June 17 with an outreach to the Adankolo community. We provided education, checked vitals, and dispensed medications to indigent members of the community. 

"This was made possible as a result of the support from our generous sponsors. The management supported us every step of the way, emphasising the importance of this initiative.

"Tonight, we gather here, looking as radiant as ever, to celebrate not only ourselves but also the wonderful institution and remarkable people on whose shoulders we have stood to get to this point," she said

Dr Onubogu commended the management of the health institution for their unwavering support towards the success of the event. 

The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of award, classical music, dance, panel discussion, and launching of HO forum Year Book, titled: "Trailblazers 2024".

The award recipients were honored with special recognition by the HO forum based on their immense contributions to the development of the forum, FTHL, healthcare delivery and service to humanity.  

During the panel discussion, the Panelists had an in-depth deliberations on the topic: "Life after Housemanship: The options".

The panelists include: Dr Ojochide Ebune; Dr Taiwo Jones, ex CMAC FTHL; Prof. Mike Ogirima, the Provost Federal University Lokoja College of Health Sciences (FULCOHS); Rep. of Commissioner for Health, Dr Aledare Adekunle; and a businessman, Mr Peter Onujeme (Peelink).

The panelists exposed the health officers to diverse opportunities ahead, and advised them to be hardworking and focus on things that soothe their personalities and core values.

They urged the young doctors to specifically define what they want in life, think out of the box, be committed whole heartedly to their profession, and avoid distractions especially from social media.

By Stephen Adeleye

HEALTH: Medical Director tasks governments on sustained support for hospitals in managing premature infants

 

By Stephen Adeleye

The Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre Lokoja (FMCL), Dr. Olatunde Alabi, has urged governments to invest and sustain support for the activities of various hospitals in the management of premature babies.

Alabi gave the advice on Wednesday at a program organised by the Neonatology Unit, Department of Paediatrics of FMCL, as part of activities to celebrate the ''World Prematurity Day 2021''.

According to him, governments need to support the activities of the various hospitals in making sure that investment on management of premature infants is sustained.

He noted that the unit managing the premature infants at FMCL remained the only standard centre for newborn special care unit in the whole of Kogi State.

He added that the unit had well qualified Consultants and specialised Nurses that effectively managed premature babies including training and retraining of medical officers.

He, however stressed the need for governments to support the activities of various hospitals in making sure that investment on management of premature infants was improved and sustained.

''So, if the government can give us more support, it will go a long way because to keep premature infant alive is very expensive.

''We cannot keep our eyes away from them because these infants are eventually our investment into the future, and we have to take very good care of them,'' Alabi said.

Earlier, Dr Patricia Medupin, a Consultant Paediatrics, and head of newborn special care unit in FMCL, said the theme for the 2021 world premature day, is ''Zero Separation: Act Now''.

Medupin said the unit at FMCL, had been able to effectively and successfuly managed the treatment of premature babies in spite various challenges over the past years.

She explained that the average survival rate in terms premature at FMCL over the last five years was 66.8 per cent, while the average mortality was 24.6 per cent.

She noted that the current national mortality rate was 32 per cent, stressing that FMCL was doing a little better than the national rate despite the challenges.

She emphasised that zero separation was possible if the necessary facilities were put in place.

In their separate comments, Mrs Blessing Balogun and Mrs Margaret Olorunmosunle, who had premature babies, commended the management of FMCL for the care and support being giving to them and their babies. 

The World Prematurity Day is observed on every Nov. 17,  to raise awareness about preterm birth. 

The highlight of the occasion was the cutting of the cake to celebrate premature babies.

End