MEDICAL DIRECTOR’S SPEECH AT THE PUBLIC LECTURE MARKING THE END OF 2ND TENURE OF OFFICE 14TH SEPTEMBER 2013
Protocol
I thank Allah for his blessings, wisdom and good health to be here today and welcome you all to this public lecture organized by the staff of the centre to mark the end of my stewardship as a Medical Director.
Prof. Babagana M. Ahmad
The National Ear Care Centre was established in 1999 in a space provided by Lagos university teaching hospital (LUTH). This was purely for logistics reasons since the pioneer
acting Medical Director, Prof P A Okeowo was then a staff of LUTH.
Relocation of the centre from Lagos to kaduna State was in late 2001. This progressed in phases until the final batches of staff relocated together with the school of post basic ENT (the only one in the country in October, 2003).
The management of the centre approached the Kaduna State Government in 2003 which graciously gave us space at then newly renovated Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital for clinic and admission. We also approached the Nigerian Army references Hospital which granted us a theatre day for surgeries. Thus, the centre operated from three locations namely: Administrative department at no. 20 Katuru Road, Clinics, Admissions and Post Basic ENT School at Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, Tudun Wada and surgeries at 44 the Nigerian Army references Hospital.
In line with our vision, the hospital has recorded an unprecedented improvement in both infrastructural and manpower training, welfare and development, resulting in qualitative service delivery to our teaming patients. Now, the centre has accreditation for Residency Training from both the National and West African Colleges. It also has accreditation for the only Post Basic ENT Nursing training in Nigeria.
During my stewardship, I enjoyed a very good working relationship with both management and staff of the centre. Together we were able to improve the centre to its enviable height.
It is my conviction that the aforementioned achievements in the hospital were not unconnected with the assistance from Kaduna State Government (our host) as well as the friendly and peaceful working relationship that existed among the hospital management, staff, the various associations and unions. I am to state that throughout the period of my tenure, I did not experience any local labour unrest. Even when the staff had to go on strike as result of national issues, we always enjoyed some working understanding with the striking members of staff. While we celebrate the successes recorded, lets us equally acknowledge that the challenges we experienced as a corporate institution are very enormous. Funding has been a very big challenge towards the realization of our mission and vision.
The lecturer Prof. Ibrahim Abdu-Aguye is the Dean Faculty of Medicine Kaduna State University and former CMD of ABUTH Shika-Zaria, is an experienced clinician, academician and administrator. The lecture topic – “Leadership and Medical Professionalism” is coming at a time where professionals are facing trying moments in leadership.
I therefore express my profound gratitude to Allah Almighty and the federal government for the opportunity to serve the nation in this capacity and to thank the Kaduna State Government for all its kind assistance.
Similarly, may I extend my profound gratitude for every cooperation and assistance I received from all the management and staff and hope that such gesture will equally be granted to my successor to ensure that the modest achievements recorded during this period would be sustained and further build upon.
I thanked you all.
