By Oluwafunke Ishola
THE LAGOS State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, says the state has multiple strategies to improve its health workforce across all cadres.
Abayomi said this during the 1st Graduation of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Caregivers Academy on Wednesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abayomi had earlier said the state’s human resources for health initiative was a comprehensive strategy aimed at optimising the healthcare workforce to ensure efficient, high-quality healthcare delivery across the state.
Abayomi acknowledged that the initiative recognised that a well-trained, adequately staffed, and motivated healthcare workforce was essential to achieving health system goals.
He said that central to the initiative was the strategic recruitment of healthcare professionals to address workforce shortages and ensure that healthcare facilities across all levels had the required staff to meet the health needs of the population.
The commissioner commended LASUTH for conceptualising the Caregivers Academy, noting that it aligned with the state’s commitment to enhancing quality manpower and the well-being of citizens.
He expressed gratitude to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his continuous and unrelenting support to LASUTH, which had positioned it as a pacesetter that utilised cutting-edge technology to advance science and the care of patients.
Abayomi emphasised that caregiving practice encompassed compassion, etiquette, and care, advising the graduates to display these attributes while caring for patients.
He acknowledged that caregivers were in high demand globally, noting that they would not stop graduates who were considering migrating.
Abayomi, however, advised them to send their remittances to help the Nigerian economy, acquire more skills for self-development and return with their expertise.
He said that graduates who chose to stay in the country would be recruited and given opportunities to display their knowledge.
Similarly, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, Chief Medical Director, LASUTH, said LASUTH offered the three-month programme in partnership with the John Academy UK.
Fabamwo said most graduates of the academy would have certificates from both institutions, adding that the training had enhanced their employability.
The CMD said the training aligned with the Federal and Lagos state government’s plan to boost the number of health workers in the country.
He appealed to the graduands to confine themselves to their area of training, stressing that they were not nurses.
“I want to remind you that you have not been trained as nurses. You are not nurses. There is much more to being a nurse than what you have been equipped with.
“So, please, don’t see yourselves as alternate nurses. Don’t go to town and tell people that you have trained as a nurse.
“You are caregivers. Please, confine yourselves to what we have trained you to be,” he said.
Also, Dr Atinuke Onayiga, Chairman of the Health Service Commission, advised the graduands to uphold high standards of excellence and integrity and adapt to the changing landscape of healthcare.
Commenting, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser on Health to Lagos State Governor, said the graduation of the caregivers was timely and would assist to boost human resources in the state and country. (NAN)
