Follow Us on Google
From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Abia State Government, in conjunction with Quantus Medical Foundation, a United States-based non governmental organisation (NGO) committed to excellence in healthcare, has inaugurated Patient Liaison Officers (PLOs) in Aba General Hospital, bringing the number of such inauguration to three in the state.
Speaking during the inauguration, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Aba General Hospital, Dr. (Mrs) Amaka Kamalu, said with the coming of the PLOs, workers of the health facility were expected to carry out their duties according to the CARE programme of government, which stands for Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence.
Dr. Kamalu said with this, workers were expected to treat patients with compassion, honour, and dignity, stressing that any worker that failed short of these will be sanctioned.
The CMD informed the workers that the presence of the PLOs in hospitals was as a result of change in the healthcare delivery system of Abia State, which was introduced by Governor Alex Otti for the benefit of the people of the state.
“The presence of the PLOs is a result of the change Governor Alex Otti has brought to the healthcare delivery system of the state for the benefit of the people”.
Dr. Kamalu urged the workers to cooperate with the PLO, and desist from treating workers with disrespect, so as not to attract the attention of the PLOs. “This is the third hospital the PLOs were inaugurated in the state, it has worked in other places and it must work here at the Aba General Hospital. The patients must be treated with respect here”.
Other News
The state focal person, Abia Health Care Rebirth Initiative (AHCRI), Dr. (Mrs) Uzo Oguine, said the unboarded PLOs for the hospital will, among other things, ensure that no emergency case was rejected.
“They are not here as police, but to monitor what the workers are doing in terms of their relationship with patients”.
She disclosed that the programme was an initiative of the state government and powered by Quantus Medical Foundation, under the leadership of Dr. (Mrs) Nnenna Ihekoromadu.
Dr. Oguine charged the workers to cooperate with the PLOs and always bring their immediate problems to them, to enable government tackle them promptly.
Dr. (Mrs) Ihekoromadu said the idea about the programme was to ensure that patients are treated with utmost respect and care in hospitals.
Represented by Uzoma Onyeka, Manager of Quantus Foundation in charge of Enugu and Abia states, Dr. Ihekoromadu said with the unboard of the PLOs, work culture of the health facility will change for good.
Leader of the PLOs at ABSUTH, Bernard Egbe, said his team has brought a lot of changes at the health institution in terms of workers/patients relationship. He commended the Abia State government for the initiative and urged workers in Aba General Hospital to cooperate with the PLOs posted to the hospital.
