In recognition of their outstanding contributions to pharmaceutical practice and health care in Nigeria respectively, the duo of Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, managing director of Pharmanews Limited and Olorogun (Dr) Sonny Kuku, co-founder of Eko Hospital, have been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award was presented during the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA) ceremony, held at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on 26 June, 2015.
The colourful event attracted several health care professionals, as well as eminent personalities in both the pharmaceutical and the medical subsectors, including Dr Olaokun Soyinka, Ogun State Commissioner for Health; Dr Leke Pitan, former Lagos State Commissioner for Health; Pharm. Gbenga Olubowale, chairman, Lagos branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN); 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 Private Medicine Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN).
Others were Pharm. Bukky George, managing director of HealthPlus Pharmacy; Pharm. Bisi Bright, CEO of the Livewell Initiative; Dr Andy Cunliffe, general manager of Reddington Hospital; Dr Wale Alabi, NHEA’s project director; and Pharm. (Mrs) Clare Omatseye, managing director of JNC International.
In other categories of the award, HealthPlus Pharmacy emerged Best Pharmaceutical Retail Outlet of the Year, for the second time running; May & Baker won the Excellence in Pharmaceutical Research and Development Award; Reddington Hospital won the Private Healthcare Provider Award; Hygeia HMO clinched the Health Maintenance Organisation of the Year Award; while Pathcare Nigeria Limited emerged winner in the Private Laboratory Service Provider of the Year category.
Other winners included JNC – International Engineering Service Provider of the Year (Biomedical category); Mecure Healthcare – Best Eye Care Service Provider; Smile 360 Dental – Best Dental Service Provider; Bridge Clinic – Best IVF Service Provider; St Nicholas Hospital – Best Dialysis Service Provider; LUTH – Best Physiotherapy Service Provider; Fidson Healthcare Plc – Best Pharmaceutical Operation Excellence; and Swiss Biostadt – Best Healthcare Equipment Marketing Company.
On a very special note, the Healthcare Heroes Award was given to First Consultant Hospital, Obalende, in honour of the late Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh and others who sacrificed their lives in the campaign against the dreaded Ebola virus.
According to Dr Olugbile, the feat accomplished by Dr Adadevoh and the entire First Consultant team shows that health care in Nigeria is not dead.
“We are honouring you today for your resilience and integrity in the manner you handled the Ebola case. Instead of fleeing for their dear lives after being cleared, survivors of the virus who were hospital workers continued to practise. I think they deserve a round of applause for their heroic act,” Olugbile declared.
Acknowledging the effort put into the organisation of the award ceremony, Dr Wale Alabi, the project director, explained that the award was designed to celebrate and recognise hardworking individuals and organisations who had contributed in a remarkable manner to the improvement of the Nigerian health care sector.
“To remove any iota of doubt about this award, let me reiterate that all votes were done via social media. This is to retain our integrity and non-alignment to any individual or organisation. I use this opportunity to congratulate all the nominees and eventual winners,” he said.
NHEA is an initiative of the Global Health Project and Resources, in partnership with the Anadach Group.
