According to the Federal Neuro-mental Hospital Yaba in Lagos State, 77,071 mental patients have received care at the hospital’s different outpatient pharmaceutical service locations.

This was revealed by the hospital’s medical director, Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye, on Wednesday at the presentation of the 2022 Annual Report (A Day with the Medical Director).

Owoeye added that a total of N601.63 million was expended on the acquisition of drugs, which had been robust and procured following a competitive contract procedure within the time under review.

He stated that a total of 24 destitute patients were taken care of by the hospital upon their admission, and N1.35 million worth of medication was given to them.

He said that during the year under review, the hospital lost three of the 24 poor patients it had been caring for, some of whom had been there for decades.

The hospital’s physical and infrastructural modifications over the past year have been enormous, the medical director said, and they were made possible by government funding provided by the Federal Ministry of Health.

He clarified that significant development projects were supported at various points in time in the hospital’s Yaba and Oshodi annex, which significantly enhanced the hospital’s aesthetic value and pictorial state in addition to improving the delivery of healthcare services in comparison to earlier times.

The completion of the administrative building, the renovation of the psychology/psychotherapy building, the refurbishment of hospital wards, the building and remodeling of the outpatient clinic, and the development of the psychiatric Tele-Psychiatric Center are just a few of the projects he mentioned.

He claimed that 210 employees received sponsorship for in-house training, while one employee received sponsorship for an overseas training program. He added that all hospital divisions were included in the sponsorship, which was aimed at increasing employee performance and capacity.

The Drug Revolving Fund is heavily burdened by the ongoing distribution of pharmaceuticals to patients who are impoverished without receiving payment or compensation.

Nonetheless, the hospital’s physical and infrastructural growth, as well as its Human Capacity Building, saw significant advancements throughout the year under review.

“Important workers were appointed and promoted on time, capital projects were approved and carried out in accordance with the law, grievances and industrial relations issues were handled promptly through a redress mechanism, and funding and financial improvements were pursued with renewed vigor.”

“They are evident in the remarkable and monumental growth the hospital witnessed in the year,” Owoeye added. “They were made possible basically by the synergy between the Board, Management, and Staff.”

Staff welfare, infrastructure development, and electronic medical records were identified by Owoeye as the main areas of focus for 2023.

He mentioned that the hospital had a number of difficulties during the period under consideration, including a shortage of staff and inadequate overhead releases.

“I want to reassure you that every attempt will be made to address staff wellbeing through wise utilization of the resources available. In 2023, it will be a top priority for management.

“The hospital’s electronic medical record will be fully functional by 2023; this will improve the caliber of services we provide to patients and also stop any potential systemic leaks,” he stated.

Dr. Christopher Ugwu, a member of the hospital’s pharmacy team, praised the medical director for all of his accomplishments during the period under evaluation and expressed hope that 2023 would be even better.

However, Ugwu recommended that going forward, the hospital take into account acknowledging the contributions and accomplishments made by the several unions that are present there, as that would inspire the unions’ morale.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, no fewer than eighteen exceptional hospital staff members received prizes during the ceremony.

(NAN)