Mrs Lateef Ibijoke (3rd from right) receiving her special recognition award
As part of efforts to encourage its staff, the board of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi Araba, yesterday, October 26, honoured a Nurse in the Psychiatric unit of hospital, Mrs. Lateef Ibijoke, with a Special Recognition Award, having emerged the hospital’s oustanding staff of 2018.
Ibijoke`s recognition came on the heels of commendations from different quarters especially from the family of a former patient of the hospital, Mrs. Helen Adekunle, who had, in October last year, written a commendation letter to the hospital, testifying of Ibijoke’s dedication and diligence to duty, and also, from the board members of the hospital.
As part of motivation to her, and to charged other members of staff to also emulate her outstanding performance, Ibijoke cruised home with N250, 000 from the family who wrote the commendation letter; the Management staff of LUTH and the LUTH Optical Center respectively.
Speaking on behalf Adekunle, a friend of the family who brought the patient to the hospital and who also wrote the recommendation letter, Mr. Andrew Houesisnon, said he was surprised that a staff of a government institution could exhibit such commendable qualities.
Houesisnon said he expressed shock on how Nurse Ibijoke was playing and taking care of patients in the ward last year that he brought Mama, and that led him to approach her.
He said: “Last year around October, we brought Mama to the hospital; I was in that department trying to see how we can gain entrance into that particular ward. I saw a lady on mufti playing with patients. I approached her and she told me she came to visit her patients that she is on leave.
“I was surprised that a nurse could do all that. After that encounter with her, she has always been there for us. I said I must tell this story to the whole world. I had to write a commendation letter and little did I know that this is going to bring us to this level. Through the letter I wrote, she called me that she has been promoted to Assistant Director Nurse.
“So, I want to commend her for the good job she has been doing, promoting the good name of this institution,” Houesisnon said.
However, not only Lateef was recognized, 50 other staffs were also given award for their outstanding performances in their various departments.
Speaking on the award, Chairman of Medical Advisory Committee of LUTH and Head Clinical Services, Dr. Olufemi Fasanmade, said the Award is a the management encourages the staffs to give their best in the hospital.
Fasanmade said: “This is a way we are trying to encourage the staff to give their best. Once in a year, we identify staff who are outstanding and such people will be encourage and those are not working hard before will also be encouraged to do so.
“You can see a lady going home with a quarter of a million Naira, may be those who think that hard work doesn’t pay will change their minds and work. It is a way to encourage people to do more,” he said.