Lagos State has inaugurated the governing board of its Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, with a charge on the new board members to improve the quality of healthcare services in the state.
The Special Adviser on Public Health to Governor Babatunde raji Fashola, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, who gave the charge at the inauguration of the seven-man board on Thursday in Lagos, explained that government was committed to ensuring the attainment of efficiency and professionalism in health care delivery, hence the establishment of the agency in 2006 in order to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of healthcare.
She said: “The Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) was established by the Health Sector Reform Law (HSRL 2006) to ensure the continuous improvement in the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery system of Lagos State. It was the first of its type in Nigeria and the agency began operations in March 2006.”
Adeshina urged the new board to prioritise the establishment of online registration and renewal of registration system, creation and training of monitoring teams, timely and regular rendition of quality data from private health facilities to the state government through local government councils and the review of work processes in the agency for improved efficiency.
“It is in line with the above listed items that the Ministry has carefully recommended a team of experienced professionals of proven integrity, who are known to be passionate about quality, to steer the board. The expectations of government are high but I am confident that members of this Board are equal to the task,” she said.
The Special Adviser stressed the need for teamwork among members by seeing themselves as members of the healthcare team to promote professional ideals within the healthcare system irrespective of their different professional associations, adding that emphasis should be placed on the discharge of duties without fear or favour.
Members of the Board include Dr. Abdullah Omotayo Bello (Chairman); Dr. Daniel Onoseware Adjekpemevor, who is representing the Lagos State Chapter of Nigerian Medical Association; Mr. Oladapo Rasheed Olawale, the representative of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives; and Mr. Kolawole Solomon Oyedeji, representative of the state chapter of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists.
Others are the representative of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mr. Olugbenga Oyewole Olubowale; the representative of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Clara Omotilewa Ibirogba; and Dr. Bolaji Akinrimisi, the Executive Secretary of the board.
Professor John Obafunwa, Dr. Wale Ajala, Dr. A. Akinlemibola and Dr. Taiwo Oyeleye are co-opted members.