…As FMC Owo Staff Wins Shalina Rising Star Award
Eminent Nigerian medical practitioners, including, the Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Chapter, Dr Adetunji Adenekan, the National President, Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr Isaya Godiya, the Chairman, Society for Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON), Lagos State Branch, Dr Sixtus Ozuomba, and others have commended Shalina Healthcare Limited, a leading multinational pharmaceutical company in Nigeria, for their contribution towards the development of healthcare sector in the country.
The experts, while speaking at the maiden edition of the Shalina Rising Star Award, a unique platform for Nigerian resident doctors to showcase their clinical talents, noted that the concept is unprecedented in the history of the country’s medical profession, adding that it is highly encouraging and a morale booster.
While speaking, Dr Adenekan, noted that the award is unprecedented in the history of the Nigerian medical profession in the country, adding that kudos should be given to the organisers of the event for coming up with such a laudable concept. “I thank you for what you are doing, it is very encouraging and I want to assure you that the NMA is ready to partner with you”, he said.
In the same vein, Dr Godiya, who was represented by the National Editor of the association, Dr Omoniyi Ayooluwa, expressed the gratitude of the association to the organisers of the event and congratulated the participants, saying it was a very good way of rewarding excellence in our profession.
“We are very impressed with what we are seeing here today. We thank the organisers for providing this great platform for learning and education. We also congratulate our members who are participants in this contest, we are very proud of you all. It is a fact that you are all winners here today”.
In their own remarks, the duo of Dr Ozuomba and Dr Ibironke Sodeinde, chairman, Medical Women's Association, Lagos State Chapter, appreciated the organisers and promised the support of their associations.
According to Sodeinde, the programme is fantastic and very productive. “With this, Shalina Healthcare is breaking new ground; it is very inspiring, very insightful and very motivating. Please continue with this and you are not to do it alone, we are with you”, she stated.
The high point of the event was the emergence of staff of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Dr Adebayo Olaolu, as the winner of the maiden edition of the Shalina Rising Star Award after a keen contest.
Speaking after receiving a cash prize of one million naira, an award plaque, with a certificate of participation, Olaolu while appreciating the organiser and sponsor of the event, Shalina Healthcare, said; “It is a thing of joy to see a company thinking in this direction in the face of the global economic challenges. And it is more significant that this idea is to encourage professionalism and learning in the medical profession. I thank Shalina and pray for more prospects for the company”.
Earlier in his address, the Vice President, Shalina West Africa, Arun Raj, said the idea of the Rising Star Award was not just to give back to the people, but also to strengthen the medical profession. “It provides an opportunity for medical professionals to sharpen their analytical skills and also provides a forum that offers guiding tips to upcoming specialists from senior experts”, he said.
Also speaking, Pharm Folorunso Alaran, head, Corporate Marketing, Shalina Healthcare, explained that “It is a great feat getting this done. The Shalina Rising Star Award is one of the many value-added initiatives by Shalina Healthcare designed to drive her corporate purpose of ensuring quality healthcare delivery to all Africans. Many of these initiatives are currently ongoing”, He noted.
He continued, the Shalina Rising Stars Award is a programme for Nigerian resident doctors, where interested participants would present unique medical case reports. This first edition received over sixty entries across the Nigerian six geopolitical zones from resident doctors across various institutions such as Federal Medical Centres, Teaching Hospitals, Specialists Hospitals among others, which were carefully assessed by some appointed renowned specialists, while twelve entries made it to the grand final.
