…Kale, Nwaiwu, Idoko Bag Lifetime Achievement Awards
The atmosphere at the indoor hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA) 2021, came alive as Pharmanews, the 42-Year-Old health publication beat other publications like Business Day and PharmaTimes to win for the fourth consecutive time, the Nigerian Healthcare Media Excellence Award –Print of the Year.
In the same vein, Lagos State Government, under the administration of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also emerged the Most Responsive COVID-19 State of the Year, while the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, emerged winner of the Most Outstanding COVID-19 State Health Commissioner of the Year, to a rousing applause from the audience.
The colourful ceremony which was held on 25 June, 2021, attracted several healthcare professionals, as well as eminent personalities from both the pharmaceutical and medical subsectors, including, representatives of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and Minister of State for Health, Dr Adeleke Mamora; the Alara of Ara Kingdom, HRM Oba Olubayo Windapo; Dr Olaokun Soyinka, former Commissioner for Health, Ogun State; Dr Femi Olugbile, former chief medical director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH); and Dr Anthony Omolola, immediate past national president of Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN); directors from the Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH); medical directors from general hospitals across the state.
Others were Sir Ike Onyechi, MD&CEO, Alpha Pharmacy; Dr Wale Alabi, NHEA’s project director; and Pharm. (Mrs) Clare Omatseye, managing director, JNC International; Hon Anthony Oneya, senior special adviser to the Kano State Governor; Pharm, (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, publisher, Pharmanews, among many others
Beaming with smiles while reacting to the newly achieved feat, Atueyi, expressed his delight with the NHEA, which has carved out a niche for itself in the healthcare sector, adding that its performance had continued to improve every year.
According to him, he was selected in 2015 as the first pharmacist in the country to receive the most prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, saying although he had received more than 70 other awards, the NHEA Award gave him the greatest joy because it embraces the entire healthcare sector.
He continued, “We are happy that in 2017, 2018 and 2019, Pharmanews won in the category of the Nigerian Healthcare Media Excellence Award – Print. This year again, 2021, we have won it, making it the fourth time consecutively. Indeed, this is a manifestation of God’s grace. The world has recognised our unique contribution in the healthcare space”, he enthused.
Prof. Abayomi, who was at the occasion to represent Gov. Sanwo-Olu and for his own award, received both awards and dedicated them to all healthcare professionals and frontline workers for their roles and sacrifices in the COVID-19 response efforts.
Speaking further at the event themed “Celebrating Our Healthcare Heroes”, the commissioner said the Lagos State Government has a policy of not receiving any award for COVID-19 response because efforts aimed at preventing and managing the global pandemic are still on-going. He noted however that the state government is receiving the NHEA award to acknowledge the bravery of all frontline workers.
“During the battle against COVID, the wave one and the wave two; we lost some of our colleagues, we lost 14 health professionals; 12 doctors and two nurses. This is just to remind us that there are still people dying around the world from COVID.
“We want to say that we really appreciate all the work that has been done by the frontline workers and sacrifices that have been made. During COVID-19, some doctors and nurses and professionals never saw their families for some weeks; they were constantly on call working night and day trying to save lives.
“And to all the healthcare heroes, all of you, these awards are for you, these awards are yours”, Abayomi stated.
He noted that the Lagos State Government is not resting on its oars in the battle against COVID stressing that strategies have been put in place and being implemented to prevent a third wave of the disease in Lagos and Nigeria.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman Advisory Board of NHEA Dr Anthony Omolola, applauded the Lagos State Government and the Ministry of Health for a well-coordinated COVID response which helped to flatten the curve of infection, saying we are very proud of how Lagos State Government and Ministry of Health responded to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Omolola explained that the NHEA is an annual event that celebrates distinguished personalities and organisations who have contributed immensely to the growth of the Nigerian health sector.
He stated that NHEA which started in 2014 has become a high profile event in the healthcare industry, gaining wide acceptance from stakeholders in the healthcare community, public and private sectors. He added that the award is an initiative of Global Health Project and Resources in Partnership with Anadach group.
“Over the years, the NHEA has endeared more awareness on the quality and standards of services provided by various stakeholders in the industry, by inspiring them to adopt International best practices and aspire to be the benchmark for excellent health care service delivery in Nigeria and Africa in general.
“NHEA’s recognition aims to stimulate quality improvement and innovation in the Nigerian health sector leading to improved service delivery & management of key health issues and the capacity of individuals to influence and set new performance standards in Nigeria & beyond”, Omolola said.
At the event, three healthcare professionals who had distinguished themselves in various health fields were presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards. The awardees are: Gen. Aderonke Kale rtd.; a medical doctor and a consultant psychiatrist who is a pioneer female military personnel and the first female commandant of the Nigeria Army Medical Corp; Dr John Nwaiwu; a respected pharmacist and one time Deputy Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service and Prof. John Idoko, a former Director General of the Agency for the Control of AIDS.
In other categories, Smile Train won Special Recognition Awards; National Reference Laboratory, Abuja won Most Outstanding COVID – 19 Public Laboratory of the Year; SYNLAB Nigeria won Most Outstanding COVID – 19 Support Private Laboratory Company of the Year; Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) won Most Outstanding COVID – 19 CSR Health Project of the Year; Dr Karen Amarachukwu Allison, Most Outstanding COVID-19 Professional of the Year; Sterling Bank Plc, Outstanding Healthcare Financial Institution of the Year; Nigeria Health Watch, Healthcare Media Excellence Award – Online; TV Continental, Healthcare Media Excellence Award – Broadcast; Lagoon Hospitals, Private Healthcare Provider of the Year; Clinix Healthcare, Lagos, Radiology Service Provider of the Year; Total Health Trust Limited (A Member of Liberty Holdings South Africa)Health Maintenance Organisation of the Year; Alpha Pharmacy and Stores Limited, Pharmaceutical Retail Outlet of the Year; Emzor Pharmaceuticals Limited, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company of the Year; DrugstocEhub Limited, Technology-Driven Distribution Company of the Year.
Other winners were Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta, SafeCare Public Facility of the Year; Paelon Memorial Hospital, SafeCare Private Facility of the Year; The Bridge Clinic, IVF Service Provider of the Year; St. Nicholas Hospital, Dialysis Service Provider of the Year; Eye Foundation Hospital, Eye Care Service Provider of the Year; Smile360 Dental Specialists, Dental Service Provider of the Year; Ageless Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy Service Provider of the Year; Olufunmilayo Adeyemi Oluwatayo, Past National President, Public Health Nurses Association of Nigeria, Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Award of the Year; JNC International Ltd, Biomedical Engineering Service Company of the Year; DCL Laboratory Products Ltd., Abuja, Laboratory Equipment Marketing Company of the Year; GE Healthcare, Hospital Equipment Marketing Company of the Year; Vanguard Pharmacy Limited, Ibadan, Most Improved Pharmaceutical Retail Outlet of the Year.
Described as the “Oscar” of health sector, the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA) is jointly supported by Global Health Project & Resources (GHPR) in collaboration with Anadach Group in the United States.
