COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF 2019 ANNUAL SOCIO-SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE

COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF ANNUAL SOCIO-SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS OF NIGERIA (AMSWON) HELD AT THE OBA OKEZUA HALL, UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL, BENIN BETWEEN 21ST  TO 25TH OCTOBER, 2019

Preamble

The Association of Medical Social Workers of Nigeria, Socio-Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting was held from 21st to 25th October, 2019 at the Oba Okezua Hall, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin which was tagged the AMSWON Heatbeat 2019, with the theme: Human Relationship: The thrust of Medical Social Work Practice in Nigeria.

AMSWON congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for his re-election for second term in office, we pray for God to give him wisdom and strength to lead the country successfully.

We also congratulate Dr Osagie Ehanire and Senator Olorunibe Mamora for their appointment as the Honorable Minister of Federal Ministry of Health and Minister for State for Health respectively.

The five(5) day conference/AGM as attended by 100 medical social workers across the various centres in Nigeria. The opening ceremony was chaired by Dr Asham M.B (Director of NNPC Medical Centre, Benin Zone) while the Socio-scientific session was chaired by Prof Jane Roli Adebusuyi. Four paper were presented during the conference followed by exhaustive discussion by participants

  1. Bridging the gap between the patients environment and health environment delivered by Mrs Aduloju Tolulope from Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti
  2. The relevance of strength-based approach in the medical social work practice was delivered by Mr Stephen Agba from Federal Neuropsychiatry Hospital, Calabar
  3. Helping Response, Helping Process and Helping Professionals was delivered by Mrs Adebami B.O from Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife
  4. Dual relationship in medical social work practice: Limits and Consequences by Mrs Ifeyinwa Roseline Obekiki from University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin.

Observations:

Participants at the conference/AGM observed the following:

  • The bane of Medical Social Workers practice was identified to be lack of establishment of social work council bill
  • Some department are being headed by non-qualified personnel from other professions
  • Insecurity of members during field work e.g home-tracing, repatriation etc
  • Training and retraining not adequate for member
  • There is need for full adoption of technology in clinical social work practice in Nigeria,
  • No scheme of service for members
  • Service of Medical Social Workers are not known adequately to members of the public
  • Lack of assigned vehicle to the Medical Social Services Department to carry out their duties.

Resolution adopted

  • Social Workers Council Bill should be assent to by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as a matter of National Importance and Urgency.
  • The problem of insecurity in the country should be addressed as this have led to the death of many Health Workers and Medical Social Workers are not left out especially during field work in some establishment
  • The Scheme Of Service for Medical Social Workers should be established to enable defined work schedule, remuneration, nomenclature and the other benefits
  • Continuous training and retraining of the Medical Social Workers should encouraged and improved upon in various government settings
  • Medical social workers should not be posted out of their department because of the specific professional training and abilities posting them out of their department amount to unprofessionalism, under-utilization of their skills and competence
  • Call Duty allowance should built into the remuneration of Medical Social Workers in every practice settings
  • There should be public enlightenment and sensitization of the public on the service of the Medical Social Workers in health institution

 Acknowledgement

AMSWON expresses her profound gratitude to the Honorable Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire, Edo State Government, His Excellency Governor Godwin Obaseki, His Royal Highness Omo N’ Oba Nedo Uku Akpolokpolor Oba of Benin Obanewuare II, Dr Osomwonyi Irowa Permnent Secretary Ministry of Health, Professor Dalington Obaseki CMD UBTH, Dr S.O Olotu Medical Director, FNPH Uselu, Benin-City, Dr Patric Okundia, Medical Director Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Benin-City, for their moral and material support towards the successful hosting of the 2019 Socio-scientific conference/AGM and the guest speaker Dr Ofili. S. Iborbor for honoring the invitation to speak at the event.

Alhaji Alhassan Abubakar Bichi                                                   Mr Ellu Daniel

National President                                                                        General Secretary

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