How SOFPON at UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital Osogbo celebrated World Family Doctors’ Day
By Timothy Agbor, Osogbo
Society of Family Physician of Nigeria (SOFPON), Osun State Chapter has celebrated this year’s World Family Doctors’ Day with a charge to refer patients with special cases to appropriate specialists on time before the case gets out of hand and leads to the death of the patient.
This charge was given by the Chief Medical Director, UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Professor Peter Babatunde Olaitan while addressing family physicians at the celebration held recently.
According to Professor Olaitan, every doctor must know the limit of his training and when to call in a colleague in other field for expert opinion on a patient.
He said the Family Medicine Department has impacted so much on the hospital which is a result of the performances of the doctors of the department who are men and women of integrity.
Professor Olaitan revealed that when Family Physicians are put in sensitive positions in some units in the hospital they perform excellently well which makes him so proud of them. He said, “when I think of whom to handle the sensitive situations in the hospital, I think Family Medicine.”
The Chief Medical Director also commended the trainers in the department for a job well done as this is evident in the 100% success recorded in the exams written and the turnout of more consultants in the department.
In his speech, the Chairman, Society of Family Physician of Nigeria (SOFPON), Osun State Chapter, Dr. Babatunde Afolabi expressed the hope that the department will be a laboratory for producing doctors to man Primary Health Centres and General Hospitals around the state with the assurance that they will perform well due to the kind of training they are exposed to in the hospital.
Dr. Afolabi assured patients that family doctors will continue to provide care in all stages of patient’s live from cradle to grave and will always be there wherever and whenever they are needed at the front line in war, health crises and time of peace. He explained that they will continue to uphold the theme of the celebration which is “Always there to Care.”
Dr. Afolabi who is also the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of the hospital appreciates the Management of UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo for the opportunity given to the Family Medicine Department to function and for believing in the department.
In his address, the Head of the Department, Dr. Fatoki expressed happiness at the encomiums poured on the department saying that it is a challenge to do more.
He solicited for more support from the Management in order to perform even better. Dr. Fatoki also emphasized the need for more staff in the department to make the work seamless.
A statement issued by Mr Ayodele Adeyemo, the Public Relations Officer of the hospital, disclosed that World Family Doctor’s Day is held on May 19 every year. It is set aside to celebrate doctors who dedicate their lives to provide continuing primary care that is comprehensive and coordinated in a personalized manner to patients without limitation of age, sex, organ system or disease entity in relation to the family unit.
