The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), in collaboration with other key stakeholders, has made a plea for increased synergy among healthcare professionals. The collaboration aims at improving the speed and accuracy of diagnoses, as well as providing enhanced patient care that aligns with best medical practices.
Health professionals from various fields gathered in Abuja on Thursday for a conference organized by the MWAN and Focus Africa. Titled ‘Strengthening Networks for Prompt Diagnosis and Care,’ the event emphasized the importance of collaboration to improve patient diagnosis and care, with speakers emphasizing the urgent need for healthcare providers to work together to provide the highest standards of healthcare.
According to Prof. Rosemary Ogu, the president of MWAN, the conference sought to establish a robust platform where healthcare practitioners could discuss and implement effective strategies for achieving rapid and accurate diagnoses, as well as ensuring patients receive optimal care.
“We’re saying that everyone should come together for collaboration, and networking so that we can look after patients better. And so to do that, we need to know what are the things available, who is doing what, and how can I be better healthy to take care of you because if I’m not healthy, I can’t take care of you.
“So, we have a wellness aspect, we have innovative aspects, we have advancement aspects, and then we have learnings from the field. If I’ve done something, I know how, but you don’t know how because you haven’t done it. But if I share my experience, you can learn, and so we are learning from one another, especially with cervical cancer elimination.
“Cervical cancer is a disease that can be eliminated, but some don’t know, some know, some are doing something, some are not doing. So, we need to come together so we can do more.”
Speaking at the conference, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary of Health Services and Environment in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, emphasized the Secretariat’s commitment to improving the overall health and well-being of the population
Fasawe said, “Health is not only the absence of disease, it is your general wellness. What the FCT has decided to focus on is not only infrastructural determinants of health; we are also looking at the social determinants of health. We are going to the grassroots to start to preach prevention, which is better than cure.
“I am happy to say that up till this very moment, because of our extensive advocacy and health promotion activities, the FCT has not officially recorded one case of cholera. Those are parts of the initiatives that this current administration under Barrister Nyesom Wike is not only a project man physically, he also wants the systems to grow. So he supports us especially to go into the grassroots and take whatever message we are sharing in our offices down there.
“For now, much more than physically treating patients, we are trying to prevent diseases, and increase our opportunities at capacity training.”
The Chairman of the conference, Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, highlighted that prompt diagnosis and quality care serve as the cornerstone of an effective healthcare system.
Speaking on behalf of Senator Ned Nwoko, Dr. Michael Nwoko, emphasized the vital role of building strong networks in fostering healthcare excellence. Dr. Nwoko highlighted that when healthcare practitioners prioritize knowledge sharing, engage in mentorship programs, and encourage professional development within their networks, they create a collaborative environment that enables them to work together to diagnose and treat patients accurately and efficiently.
He noted that the fight against cervical cancer must be approached with determination
In his words, “By collaborating with wellness experts and healthcare advocates, we can develop comprehensive approaches that nurture the body, mind, and spirit, therefore, enhancing the overall quality of life of our people, and increasing opportunities through collaboration.
“The opportunities offered by collaboration in medicine, health, and wellness are boundless. Together, we can take note and explore new treatments, technologies, and methodologies that push the boundaries of what is possible in healthcare, train the next generation of healthcare professionals to be adaptable, knowledgeable, and compassionate healthcare leaders.”
