Lagos Trains 825 Health Workers on Attitudinal Change

Martins Ifijeh

In its bid to foster qualitative healthcare service delivery and increase patients’ utilisation of efficient and affordable health services in all state-owned health facilities, the Lagos State Government said it has commenced the training of no fewer than 825 health workers on personal and work etiquette, as well as professional core values.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Titilayo Goncalves, made this known recently while addressing participants at one of the sessions of the capacity training held in Ikeja.

She noted that the 825 health workers consist of core health workers and other professionals working in the health sector within the senior management cadre drawn from primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities as well as departments of the State Ministry of Health, Health Service Commission and Primary Health Care Board.

She said, “Although nurses form the bulk of the participants, other core health workers like doctors, pharmacists, laboratory technicians and professionals working in the health sector like engineers, accountants, administrative and human resource officer, public affairs officers amongst others are also being trained.”

Goncalves while explaining the rationale for the training said the state government through the ministry of health has been inundated with complaints and reports from patients and the public on poor attitude of its health workforce prompting the need for orientation and re-orientation.

“The complaints and reports have become worrisome and it is inimical to our goal of providing quality affordable and efficient health services to the populace hence the initiation of these trainings which overall goal is to assist health workers and other related professional in health service delivery system to improve their attitude for greater level of effectiveness at work”, the permanent secretary said.

She noted that the training which started on Monday, May 27, 2019 will be held daily for 13 days except on weekends and public holidays, where 66 participants on a daily basis will undergo sessions on values, empathy, client or customer satisfaction, positive mindset, attitude, courtesies, time management, and professionalism amongst others.

While noting that the 825 participants are expected to cascade the training to other cadres of staff in their facilities and offices, Goncalves tasked health workers in the state health sector on the need to embrace the core values and ethics of their profession in the care of patients.

She implored health workers especially nurses and doctors to continue to exude professionalism, discipline, integrity, humility, selflessness and great care built on patient-centered care in the discharge of their noble duties adding that patient centered care is an essential tool for improving the quality of health care service in Lagos State.

“Patient Centered Care involves providing care that is respectful and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs and values, and ensuring that patient values guide all clinical decisions,” Goncalves added.