The Delta State Government has reiterated its commitment to make its hospitals both centers of excellence and referral centers in Nigeria and beyond, with the view to reverse outward medical tourism.
The Permanent Secretary Delta State Ministry of Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Minnie Oseji made this known today in Asaba during the 2-Days Virtual Training on Quality Assurance for Health Workers in Delta State organized by the Health Ministry in collaboration with the Society for Quality in Health Care in Nigeria (SQHN).
In her welcome address Dr. Oseji informed the participants that the training has a special emphasis on Standards Interpretation and Self-assessment.
As part measures to reverse medical tourism in the State, Dr. Oseji advocated a systematized quality assurance programme that would result in accreditation of health facilities by internationally recognized accrediting bodies; robust Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in healthcare and Intra-mural Practice (IMP) in government hospitals with clear cut guidelines.
She said the Ministry has successfully implemented several PPP initiatives in healthcare and is also promoting IMP in the State Teaching Hospital, Oghara and Asaba Specialist Hospital.
Dr. Oseji informed the participants that the State is the first to invite the Society for Quality in Healthcare in Nigeria for the facilitation of quality assurance programme for government owned health facilities which was only obtainable in the private hospitals before now.
“I wish to encourage participants in this training that the journey to accreditation of their health facilities has just begun and that if they persevere they will succeed” she added.
Earlier, Mrs. Vivian Akwuaka, Lead Facilitator, Society for Quality in Health Care in Nigeria in her opening remark gave an overview of her organization’s activities and the capacity building / technical assistance activities which had assisted their clients in no small way in attaining improved levels in quality services through the quality assurance programmes they offer. Other facilitators of the programme include Dr. Ajibike Oyewumi and Pharmacist Olabisi Oyeleye.
Lectures to be delivered include: Overview of Accreditation; Introduction to SQHN Standards; Conducting Hospital Assessment; Staff and Stakeholder engagement; Change management; Quality Improvement, it will also include question and answer sessions and syndicate sessions among others. Participants were drawn from the various departments in hospitals across the State.