Dec. 20, 2021

… Holds Three-Day Retreat for Management Staff

Lagos State Ministry of Health has developed strategic plans bordering on improved data management, strict implementation of regulations, income generation and budget performance, including budget drawdown and budget impact, to better position the State health sector for better service delivery in the year 2022.

The development of strategic plans is an offshoot of a three-day end of year managerial retreat organised for management staff of the Ministry held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, with the theme: “The Role of Leadership and Management in the Transformation Agenda of the Health Sector towards a Smart City”.

Speaking on the objectives of the retreat, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi explained that the retreat is geared towards enhancing creative problem-solving and decision-making skills as well as to expatiate on the roles of leadership in achieving an efficient health care system in Lagos State.

Abayomi disclosed that the Ministry of Health is poised to improve on data processing and management, set standards and prototypes in the delivery of health services, follow and keep up with advancement in the medical field around the world, create enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and act as public protector, especially preventing exploitation of citizens by the private sector in health service delivery.

The Commissioner added that the Ministry has identified opportunities to generate income and raise its internally generated revenue to fund some of its regulatory functions and high impact interventions. He stressed the need to achieve a 100 per cent budget performance with its attendant positive impact on health service delivery to residents, noting that strategic plans are in place to achieve the set goal.

Abayomi noted that the retreat has afforded the management staff in the Ministry the opportunity to equip themselves with managerial and creative innovation skills as well as keep them in tune with global best practices in health service delivery.

He added that the theme of the retreat, “The Role of Leadership and Management in the Transformation Agenda of the Health Sector towards a Smart City”, was well thought out to revolutionise out-of-the-box and innovative ideas that would propel the State’s health sector towards a resilient health system and Smart city.

While tasking health workers on the provision of sustainable health care delivery, the Commissioner applauded them for their hard work, dedication and the high level of professionalism displayed in the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking in the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, explained that the objective of the retreat is to identify key performance indicators that can assist in tracking the performance of service delivery, adding that the goal is to provide quality services to residents while responding swiftly to situations and challenges.

Dr. Ogboye explained that the State will not relent in making policies geared towards responsive and smart health care delivery, through skilled manpower development and the continuous expansion of health infrastructure.

The immediate past Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris, who was one of the facilitators at the retreat, urged the leadership in the health sector to remain focused and have an established direction through which the health sector can leverage to achieve its goals.

In his paper presentation titled: “Role of Leadership in the Transformational Agenda of the Health Sector”, Idris urged the health workers to be innovative, confident and courageous in the discharge of their duties, adding that the sector at this point in time requires a variety of leadership approaches with a new set of skills.