Management of Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti (FETHI) in collaboration with Medi-Health International, Lagos, has organized an enlightenment programme to train Health Assistants (Orderlies), Contract Staff (Jordia and Bolajoko) and sensitise Nurses, selected Head of Units (HOUs) and Matrons on proper ways to manage and dispose waste generated in the hospital environment.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Adekunle Ajayi ably represented by the Head of Nursing Services (HNS), Mrs. Omobowoje, welcomed all the participants to the sensitization session where the Medi-Health Personnel in charge of the newly installed incinerators were officially introduced on Tuesday.
Mrs Omobowoje, who blatantly discouraged accumulation of waste in the selected dumping sites, entrenched that hazardous wastes must not be dropped haphazardly within the hospital to avoid contaminations and pollution.
She said, “This is another phase of development in the history of our hospital. Our incinerators are now ready for use. This is remarkable. As the management under the leadership of our amiable CMD is making all efforts to see that FETHI moves forward, and as the ship is moving, we must move along with the ship to see the FETHI of our choice.”
The leader of Medi-Health International, Mr Famuyibo extolled the management for embarking on the incinerator project, adding that only in FETHI in the whole of South/West can such high capacity incinerators be found.
He therefore enjoined those saddled with the responsibilities of packing the generated solid waste to ensure they drop them at the selected points appropriately.
A member of the team, Mr Omololu explained that the goal of their staff was to ensure the hospital environment remains clean and tidy, and every solid waste generated is incinerated timely to avoid spill over.
Matron Awotona, a member of the Hospital Sanitation Committee, who explained that the Medi-Health International was not in the facility to take away the jobs of the Health Assistants but to complement and improve their services delivery, highlighted about 24 designated points where the waste bins shall be placed.
She said 4 red out of the 24 bins shall be specifically meant for hazardous waste at four sensitive points.
In her closing remarks, the HNS admonished the Orderlies to consider health as wealth. She said, “More importantly, I want to urge you to always take good care of yourselves and seek medical attention whenever you notice any form of ailment. It is disheartening mourning every now and then. The management is not happy compensating the deceased with casket. Enough is enough! Come to the hospital for regular check up and always know your health status.”
The Chairman of the Hospital Sanitation Committee, Dr Jide Ojo, who gave the vote of thanks, applauded the leadership of the hospital for considering the safety of the members of staff important through the sensitization session, promising that the committee shall continually live above the expectations of the management.