Speeches

Annual General Conference/Annual General Meeting Of The Nigerian Medical Association

Aug 8, 2008 - I am delighted to be at this occasion marking the commencement of the Year 2008 Annual General Conference/Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association, the Lagos State branch. I am aware that this occasion brings together, medical doctors and professionals across the State to engage in purposeful deliberations on contemporary issues and challenges in the health sector and to chart the way forward for medicine and medical practice in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.

The Medical profession is essential and crucial to achieving sustainable healthcare management and administration in the country. Over the years, it has remained relevant and consistent in delivering basic healthcare services towards ensuring a healthy human community within the society.

The annual conference of the body of Medical doctors therefore, is essential as it will afford you the opportunity to review your past achievements and project into the future. Medical practice is sensitive and significant to the healthcare of our people. Those saddled with the care of other members of the public must be diligent in the discharge of their responsibilities, and abide by the ethics of the profession.

As you converge here today, the challenge before you all is to review and update the effective mechanism you have put in place to regulate medical practice and improve its standard. All over the world, medical practice is advancing by the day, especially with the continued advance in technology. Ours must not be an exemption. Our medical doctors and health workers must rise to the challenges of globalization in medical practice. A system that ensures global networking for best practices in the profession must be pursued to enhance professionalism.

On our path, the Lagos State government shall continue to provide necessary facilities and equipment to enhance the quality of healthcare services in the State. No stone will be left unturned, as we remain committed to consolidate on the achievements and foundation laid by my immediate predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the healthcare sector.

In upgrading our health facilities, and in a bid to improve and increase access to medical records by medical personnel across the State, the State government through the Ministry of Health and in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology has embarked on the e-health project.

This innovative health initiative, is intended to ensure easy access to patients’ medical history for better case management. The pilot project is based in three of our health facilities, namely:

(i) The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja;
(ii) General Hospital, Lagos; and
(iii) General Hospital, Isolo.

Our investment in the procurement of drugs and upgrading of our health facilities are geared towards sustaining our achievements in this regard. The best is yet to come. As an emerging mega-city, Lagos deserves the best in infrastructure and healthcare delivery management. I am proud to say that our University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), ranks among the very best, not only in teaching and the quality of services, but also in the available facilities and equipment.

We have initiated various programmes and health initiatives to cater for the healthcare needs of our people. For example, antenatal care, treatment for the infants, children and the aged remained free in all our general hospitals and healthcare centres across the State. We appreciate the enormous challenges posed by sustainable healthcare delivery in a State as highly populated as Lagos, and we are determined and committed in our efforts to provide adequate healthcare services to our people.

While commending efforts of members of this esteemed association, especially those in the employment of the State government for their contributions to the healthcare delivery in the State, I want to assure you of our concern and commitment towards ensuring the welfare of medical doctors and workers in the employment of the State government. As you care for the sick and the feeble in the society, we also care about your welfare in and out of the hospital environment. We appreciate your commitment and selfless service to the society and we shall continue to do all within the available resources to ensure our medical doctors and health workers are comfortable while discharging their professional responsibilities.

Finally, I congratulate the executive and entire membership of the Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State branch on this occasion. It is therefore, my hope that at the close of this conference, your knowledge in medical practice would have been enhanced and enriched for future challenges in your esteemed profession.

Thank you all and God Bless.

Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, (SAN)
Governor of Lagos State