Randle General Hospital joined counterparts worldwide to celebrate the Y2025 International Social Work Day, with a sensitization and awareness creation campaign to educate and enlighten patients about the Social Welfare Department’s roles, activities and functions, in hospital settings.
With the theme, “Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity For Enduring Wellbeing”, the event was held inside the General Out-Patient Departments at Surulere and Femi Gbajabiamila General Hospital, Iyun, respectively.
Personnel and stakeholders adorned customized shirts with the inscription: “Compassion, Empathy, Non Judgemental”, and displayed an instructive banner, for the knowledge and understanding of patients.
Speaking at the event, the Head of the Social Welfare Department, Mr Mojeed Olabode, said the Department does so much underground to ease the stress of patients.
He said the department specializes in humanitarian and compassion activities that include the care of poor and indigent patients, those who cannot afford hospital bills and the cost of drugs and help those that are truly in need after verifying the genuineness of their claims among others.
According to him, necessary counselling is also provided for people that are depressed, victims of domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse, adequate provision for the destitute, people with disabilities and generally understanding the state of minds of patients,
He said the department does not discriminate but also operates as a stop-gap between patients and philanthropists who visit hospitals to make donations during birthday celebrations.
Continuing, the HOD said the department handles cases of abandoned babies and aged people, taking them to orphanages and old people’s homes respectively, after due process, linking patients with their relatives when they regain consciousness from accidents.
Earlier, the Medical Director, Dr. Olumide Sojinrin said the functions and activities of the Social department are very crucial to the growth and development of hospitals.
He said the personnel helps greatly in generating funds for the hospitals from philanthropists, corporate organisations and friends of the hospital.
He commended the officers for always coming through on cases relating to destitute, abandoned patients occupying hospital beds indiscriminately, and needy patients, who can’t afford hospital bills and drugs, after medical investigation.
In her remarks at Iyun, the Apex Nurse, Mrs. Elizabeth Boateng, said the day was earmarked for Social Day celebration to ensure the well-being of people and equally ensure improved quality of life.
She said the department also engages in home tracing on behalf of patients, linking them to their families, after life-saving medical attention. Boateng, however, encouraged them to feel free to visit the Department for necessary information and attention.
Highlights of the programme include informative question-and-answer sessions and photo shoots that succinctly captured the mood of the day.