Lagos trains 825 health workers to minimise patients’ complaint

The Lagos State government yesterday 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 training is meant to foster qualitative health care service delivery and increase patients’ utilization of efficient and affordable health services in all state-owned health facilities.

According to the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Titilayo Goncalves,  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 Ministry of Health, Health Service Commission and Primary Health Care Board.

Addressing participants at one of the sessions of the capacity training held at Ikeja, Goncalves said that the ministry 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.

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 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 said.