Medical doctors, nurses and paramedics at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBU-TH), Bauchi have established a unity forum to tackle infighting among health professionals and improve the well-being of patients in the hospital.
Speaking during the unity forum week tagged ‘Progress in Unity: ATBU-TH Vision and Mission’ in the hospital, the chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) ATBU-TH Bauchi, Dr Haruna Usman Liman, said the forum is an opportunity for all the five unions to come together toward achieving their common goal, which is patient care, training and research.
The unions are the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP).
Liman said, “We have enjoyed industrial harmony in this hospital largely because of the integration between all the unions such that if there was any dispute, misunderstanding and the likes, we come together and resolve them amicably.
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“This is a very important quality that this hospital has developed that is worthy of emulation in all health institutions across the country because we are all united here for one common course; to take care of our patients and give them very good outcomes in terms of health parameters.
“When there is industrial disharmony and infighting among health workers, these will ultimately impact negatively on the quality of service that is been given to the patients and affect the wellbeing of the patients and the community at large.
“We have formed this forum to come together and unite as one group and the hospital workers, regardless of their areas of specialization. We are united for the achievement of one goal.”
Dr Liman said, “We believe that whatever happens between the various groups, will naturally transit to how we interact with the patients because if there is harmony between the doctors, nurses, laboratory workers, attendants and even the cleaners, the patients will have a clear appraisal of it.
“If we are united, naturally we will have an enabling environment for good quality patient care, and this will impact positively on the health indices of the patient,” Liman further explained.
The chairman of the unity forum, who doubles as president of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) ATBU-TH, Dr Muhammad Nura Algazali, said the objective of the forum is to foster harmonious relationship between various health professionals and to move ATBU Teaching Hospital forward as a team which will be of “benefit to the patients and workers as well.”
