FETHI Mgt Initiates 3-day Retreat for All HODs

•Improved system is for all, not only patients -CMD
•Disciplinary control over subordinate officer not an offence -Faseluka

The management of Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti (FETHI), in collaboration with PETERSIDE Human Resource Consulting firm had just concluded a 3-day human capacity building retreat for all the Heads of Departments in the hospital, tagged, “Providing Exemplary Leadership.”

The programme, which was affirmed as the first of its kind in the history of the hospital by some enthusiastic participants, took place at 11th House, Alagbaka, Akure in Ondo State between Friday, 27th and Sunday, 29th, November, 2020.

Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Adekunle Ajayi, who was invited to the microphone by the Director of Administration, High Chief B. O. Ogunrinde, declared “the conversations” opened; thanked PETERSIDE for inviting highly cerebral experts as facilitators and also applauded the turnout of all the HODs.

In his remarks, he maintained that the retreat became expedient to educate all on how to put on harmour to face the present battle and the ones ahead in public service as leaders in various departments of the hospital.

He continued, “This is the time that people look up on to us for survival when their hope in so many things had fizzled out. We must stand up for them and become soldiers of health. We must fight to regain the trust of our people who need medical support.

“Without proper information, many of us will continue to live in fear. The spate of indiscipline within our system can become an institutional culture if we do not tackle it in time.

“By improving the system, we are not doing a favour to any patient but to ourselves. It is the kind of the hospital or system that we build now when we are still strong and intelligent that will determine the quality of the support that we will receive when we become weak.

“If we refuse to build the system now, it will fail us when we become weak and we need the support of the system.”

Earlier, PETERSIDE Human Resource Consultant and former Permanent Secretary of Ekiti State, Dr Gbenga Faseluka, lauded the management of the hospital for extending the privilege of putting together the retreat to the firm. He noted the present situation in public service as one that calls for reflection and restrategising to move ahead towards the direction of best practices in the world.

He said, “As leaders, a lot behooves on us. When incidences of indiscipline rear their heads, no matter whose ox is gored, please exercise the authority that the service had given to you. Even under the military, I have never seen someone who was sent out of the service on the account of exercising disciplinary control over subordinate officer.”

In the retreat, three professional consultants presented papers -a retired veteran broadcaster, an author and Chairman, Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) Board of Governing Council, Mr Segun Omolayo, a legal luminary and a Professor of Medical Law and Ethics from the Faculty of Law, University of Abuja, Uwakwe Abugu and PETERSIDE HR Consultant and former Permanent Secretary in Ekiti State, Dr Gbenga Faseluka.

From all the papers which centred on legal and ethical status of the patient in Nigeria healthcare delivery service, issues in official communication and other correspondences and management rules and practices, a communique was issued containing recommendations.

It was recommended that health providers must conduct themselves in a way that guarantees the right of patients/users in a safe and ethical passion. That attendees should consciously and continuously improve on their communication competencies. That the management should endeavour to conduct orientation for new staff, appropriate reward system and encourage mentorship.

That lessons gained from the retreat should be stepped down to other members of staff and that the retreat should be an annual event.

Other Management Committee Members also attended the retreat with the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr Idowu Adebara.