Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH)

LASUTH Medical Social Services Department Celebrates World Social Work Day 2025

Friday 21st Mar, 2025

The Medical Social Services Department Of The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Joined Its Counterparts In The Health Sector Worldwide To Commemorate World Social Work Day 2025 On Tuesday, March 18, 2025. The Celebration Commenced With A Courtesy Visit To The Hospital Management, Led By Dr. Aderemi Lawal, The Head Of The Medical Social Services Department, Alongside His Team.

This Year Theme, ??Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity For Enduring Well-Being, Highlights The Importance Of Fostering Connections Across Different Age Groups For Sustainable Societal Development.

In His Welcome Address, Prof. Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo, The Chief Medical Director Of LASUTH, Congratulated The Department On The Celebration. He Commended Them For Their Invaluable Contributions To The Hospital, Noting That Their Efforts Have Ushered In An Era Of Proactive, Holistic, And Excellent Social Work At LASUTH. He Credited This Progress To The Exceptional Leadership Of Dr Lawal In The Department.

Prof. Fabamwo Highlighted The Department's Crucial Responsibility In Managing Donor Contributions To The Hospital. He Noted That One Of The Major Functions Of The Department Is To Attract Donations For Needy Patients. However, Because Funds Are Involved One Way Or The Other The Hospital Management Had To Establish Strict Donation Guidelines To Prevent Possible Accusations Of Fraud Or Misappropriation Of Funds. He Further Urged The Team To Uphold Professionalism And Ensure That All Donations Whether In Cash Or Kind Are Received With A Member Of The Department In Attendance. He Emphasized That Any Donation Received Without The Presence Of A Social Worker Would Be Deemed Illegal Or Fraudulent.

Also Speaking At The Event, Dr. Aderemi Lawal Expressed His Gratitude To The Hospital Management For Its Support, Stating That The Department Has Experienced Remarkable Improvement, Including Enhanced Staff Strength, Welfare And Resources. He Remarked, ??Today, As We Celebrate World Social Work Day, We Aim To Shed Light On Our Roles In This Noble Institution Through A Webinar And An Awareness March Around The Hospital. Dr. Lawal Reassured The CMD That The Department Remains Committed To Its Duties, Pledging Increased Diligence And Discipline In Service Delivery.

During The Webinar, Dr. Lawal Provided An In-depth Explanation Of The Theme, Describing Intergenerational Solidarity As The Bond Between Individuals Across Different Age Groups. He Highlighted The Benefits Of Fostering These Connections, Including, Promoting Social Cohesion And Knowledge Transfer, Enabling The Sharing Of Experiences, Skills, And Expertise.

He Also Shared Key Strategies That Social Workers In LASUTH Usually Adopt To Strengthen Intergenerational Solidarity, Such As Developing Programs That Unite People Across Different Age Groups, Like Mentorship Initiatives And Community Service Projects, Providing Psychosocial Support To Patients And Families Across Generations, Helping Them Navigate The Challenges Of Illness, Hospitalization, And Post-discharge Care.

Dr. Lawal Further Elaborated On The Vital Roles Of Social Workers In Hospital Settings, Emphasizing Their Responsibility To Offer Emotional, Psychological, And Social Support To Patients And Their Families. He Noted That Social Workers Play A Crucial Role In Ensuring Holistic Patient Care By Addressing Social And Emotional Factors That Impact Health Outcomes.

Additionally, He Highlighted How The Department Assists Patients Facing Financial Difficulties, Homelessness, Or Food Insecurity By Linking Them To Essential Resources Such As Housing Assistance Programs And Food Banks.

MEET THE CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Prof. Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo

Chief Medical Director

I became DCST/CMAC in 2001, that is, 19 years ago when Dr. Olugbile was the Chief Medical Director. We were saddled with the responsibility of moving the hospital from being just a general hospital to a tertiary institution which LASUTH has become. I visited the DCST of LUTH at that time, Prof. Arigbabu and Prof. Malomo at the University of Ibadan to compare notes and seek advice on how to effectively deliver on the job I had been assigned.

We forged relationships with the Members of the Lagos State College of Medicine and absolved some of them into LASUTH as honorary consultants, though the Lagos State Government (LASG) wasn't very confident of that arrangement because they thought the frequent ASUU strikes that prevailed at that time would affect the activities at the hospital, but we overcame the challenges and the attendant issues that came with it.

We had to put in place systems and structures that would help the hospital move away from a general hospital status to a tertiary institution. We had Ayinke house already which was a standard in its own right. We also had the old ICU, BT Wards, then came the Pediatric wards. As we progressed, and developed, situation started changing and now we have the new Ayinke house, the new BT wards and BT lab.

More Speech
Experience So Far
Aspiration

We moved on to getting accreditation for our clinical programmes; while at it, the Ministry of Health gave LASUTH some funds to upgrade our services. We invited the different accrediting Colleges; for some we got partial accreditation while for some others we got full accreditation one of which was for Obstetrics & Gynaecology where we did not only have full accreditation, but also had a fellow in person of Dr. Oyedele.

We also had to deal with some attitudinal lapses in the staff. We had to start some series of trainings, symposia and teachings to re-orientate staff on how they relate with the different publics of the hospital. A lot of work has gone into that and I believe we are making progress, gradually.

Fortunately for me, LASUTH has always been a part of me so, I'm not in a strange territory. For many years I have been a Prof. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the College of Medicine and Consultant for Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the Ifako Ijaiye General Hospital.

My predecessor has done a good job to take LASUTH to where it is today, but we still have a lot of work to do. First of all, the issues at the Operating Suites in the Theatres had to be hurriedly addressed. As we speak, a lot has been done and will still be done because it's an on-going project.

We have a good relationship with the State Government and with the help of the current Head of Service, Mr. Akeem Muri Okunola who tabled the issue of getting more staff in the hospital before the Executive Governor and approval was given for the recruitment of 120 Resident Doctors who have started work.

We noticed that many academic staff of the College have qualified to be appointed as honorary consultants, now that our subvention has been increased, we can now put that into consideration.

Generally, the position of the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH is really hands-on and I have been encouraged by the staff from various Departments. They have been cooperative and that has made the job easier

I believe that LASUTH has the capacity to be a quaternary institution which means moving beyond being a tertiary institution and how do we get there? We have earmarked avenues through which we can do more. Some of which include; Gradually developing the emergency unit to become a training institute or school where we train Doctors to become Emergency Doctors and nurses.

We will institutionalize our Renal Transplant Services by having more foreign missions and also have our doctors visit hospitals abroad to learn and bring back what they have learnt to train others here in LASUTH.

Developing more Doctors to becoming embryologists and IVF doctors through the Institute of Fertility Medicine here in LASUTH. We plan to develop schools in Occupational Therapy, such that our Psychiatry Department can use the skills acquired in the rehabilitation of patients.

The Lagos State University Teaching Hosp...

‎The Lagos State University Teaching H...

‎The Lagos State University Teaching H...

PROF. ADETOKUNBO O. FABAMWO
CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTOR

PROF. ADEBOWALE ADEKOYA
DIRECTOR, CLINICAL SERVICES & TRAINING

MRS OLAYINKA M. OYE-BAMGBOSE
DIRECTOR, HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION & HUMAN RESOURCE

MRS RALIAT HASSAN
DIRECTOR, FINANCE AND ACCOUNT

DR. TEMITOPE SIKIAYE
DIRECTOR OF NURSING SERVICES

Prof. Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo

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MEET THE CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTOR