Health, Health Briefs
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called for the empowerment of doctors with leadership and entrepreneurial skills to enable the country to meet the 2030 target for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The President of NARD, Dr Osundara Tope-Zenith, made this appeal in his address to launch the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and Scientific Conference in Abuja on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for the NEC meeting is “Empowering Doctors with Leadership and Entrepreneurial Skills: A Panacea for UHC and a Brighter Healthcare System”.
The sub-theme is “Building Resilience and Strengthening Nigeria’s Healthcare System for Effective Disaster and Disease Management”.
Tope-Zenith explained that if Nigerian doctors are equipped with leadership abilities and entrepreneurial skills, it would enhance their managerial capacity and improve their ability to manage the scarce resources within the healthcare sector.
“Ensuring health for all starts with the commitment and responsibility expected of doctors and everyone involved in caregiving.
“However, we face complex challenges that require the expertise of seasoned leaders. Most of our healthcare systems in Africa are characterised by poor leadership and the mismanagement of scarce resources.
“Leadership in the health sector, both in Nigeria and beyond, does not seem to be producing satisfactory results. Managing the health system to achieve UHC requires strong leadership skills”.
He stated that the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO) should not cause panic or create a health crisis in Nigeria, as the country has competent leaders who can guide the sector.
According to Tope-Zenith, the influence of leaders in providing funding for health scientific collaborations, strengthening health systems, and engaging in health diplomacy is crucial to the strength of the healthcare system.
He further explained that the theme of the conference aims to equip doctors for the future by providing the essentials for strategic leadership, even in political corridors, to champion UHC as a national priority.
Dr Jimoh-Olawale Salahudeen, Director of Hospital Services at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said that the creation of an emergency fund by the Federal Government was aimed at assisting people in emergency situations, particularly accident victims.
He noted that since its establishment, the fund has been judiciously used, with the body in charge of the fund working closely with both the government and the private sector.
“This body is responsible for immediate action, evacuating accident victims or anyone in labour, as long as they are in an emergency situation, to the nearest hospital,” he said.
Salahudeen commended NARD for its determination to improve the future of the health sector.
Dr Olatise Olalekan, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre, Abuja, also called for more training for doctors to enable them to perform optimally in their fields.
He said that if doctors were empowered with leadership and entrepreneurial skills, Nigerians could be assured that doctors would give their best for the country.
“I am one of those advocating for management and entrepreneurship courses to be included in our training curriculum, so that every doctor can take full advantage of the healthcare space.
“That is the only way we can achieve UHC. We are not just talking about meeting UHC in major cities but also in remote areas. We need colleagues in these areas to address the health needs and challenges of Nigerians.
“We have over 200 million Nigerians, and health is everything. You may not realise it until you face a health challenge yourself. At that point, all the other problems you thought you had are nothing compared to your health.
“So, health is wealth. Health is everything. Empowering resident doctors with entrepreneurial and management skills will help to improve UHC,” he added. (NAN)
30th January, 2025.
A.E
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