By Emmanuella Oghenetega
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has launched and hosted the Best Practice Spotlight Organization ( BPSO) initiative.
This is in a significant move to raise the bar of qualitative healthcare delivery to Nigerians.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO), Canada.
In a statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations, it was revealed that the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom made the disclosure at the Launch of Best Practice Spotlight Organization Host and Training of Trainers on Best Practise Guidelines for Nurses.
Speaking on the import of the collaboration, the Permanent Secretary said Nigeria was the first country in Africa to identify with RNAO becoming the first BPSO designated host, emphasizing that “this for us is remarkable as we recognise the place of the Nurses to achieve the mandate of the Nigeria healthcare system”.
As a host, she further explained, the Ministry will be responsible for training, mentoring and, overseeing the nursing services delivery of the Federal Tertiary Health Institutions ( FTHIs), as well supporting them in the implementation of RNAOs Best Practice Guidelines (BPGS)”.
Represented by the Director, Food and Drugs Department of the Ministry, Pharmacist Olubunmi Aribeana, the Permanent Secretary in her keynote address, affirmed the immense contributions the best practise guidelines will bring to the nursing profession in the country.
“Nurses will be equipped to deliver care that is not only evidence-based but also culturally sensitive and patient-centred.”
“This approach will undoubtedly contribute to the realization of the coordinating minister’s four point’s health agenda as well as the global sustainable goals”, she pointed out.
Continuing on the hanging fruits of the initiative primed for implementation in 15 hospitals selected for the pilot phase, Daju Kachollom stressed the Nigerian BPSO initiative will further entrench and strengthen the Ministry’s agenda for population health outcomes.
“The Nigerian BPSO initiative is a step forward in fostering a healthcare system that prioritizes the highest standards of care.
“This training is a critical component of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance the skills and expertise of Nurses and other healthcare workers, equipping them with the tools needed to meet the evolving challenges in healthcare delivery”, the permanent secretary stated.
Earlier, the Director of Hospital Services Department of the Ministry, Dr. Salaudeen Jimoh said the launch ceremony precedes a four- day training programme of teams from 15 selected Federal Health Tertiary Health Institutions across the six geopolitical zones of the country, including a district hospital in the federal capital city.
Represented by Dr. Okpiko Okpako, Director, Regulatory & Professional Schools unit, Dr Salaudeen emphasized the core essence of the collaboration, as being essential for exchange knowledge as both countries will learn some cultural peculiarities to care giving.
Several goodwill messages were delivered by various associations of nursing profession, including from Dr. Doris Grinspun CEO Registered Nurses Association Ontario (Canada), who signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for RNAO.
