Dr John Nnaemeka Ofoedu
Head Of Department, Family Medicine, Federal Medical Centre
Umuahia Abia State, Nigeria
MDI Alumni 2013
The exposure to the MDI Programme has really played a significant role in my personal development and career growth. I joined the MDI Programme when I was the Director, Postgraduate Studies & Training of my institution in 2013. Thereafter I was appointed the Head, Family Medicine Department of my institution and also Chairman, Hospital Computerisation and Medical Records Improvement Committee. In May 2014, I was engaged by one of the leading tertiary hospitals in my country – University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu to lead the process of establishing the Family Medicine Department in the institution, including commencement of a residency training programme.
The knowledge gained from the MDI programme has significantly improved my leadership and managerial skills as Director, Post-Graduate Studies/Training and other leadership positions. I have become competent in mentoring younger colleagues in training, empowering other staff in the department as well as delegating responsibilities. It has helped me to be a leader by example, a critical thinker, a better organiser and a team player in my institution.
On completing the MDI training, I successfully carried out my CHIP (Community Health Improvement Plan) project, which was to implement an electronic records system and e-consultation package in my institution. This was successfully piloted with the National Health Insurance Scheme Clinic and is currently being replicated in other departments. As the Head of Family Medicine Department, through the application of leadership skills acquired during the training, I was able to lead the department to being awarded 5-year full accreditation of our residency training programme by the West African College of Physicians in December, 2014. Also, as the pioneer Head, Family Medicine Department in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, I was able to transform the General Out-patient Department to Family Medicine, Department by putting in place organisational structures required for the practice of Family Medicine with the support of Hospital Management. Furthermore, I was able to mentor eight medical officers who were desirous of pursuing a specialist training programme in family medicine, helping them to pass primary fellowship examinations that are a prerequisite for admission into the programme.
I have encouraged three people from my organisation to join the MDI programme, and three of them are participating in the November 2015 class in Ghana. My aim is to get a team each year to attend the programme.
I would want to appreciate the initiators and collaborators (UCLA, AMREF, Johnson & Johnson, University of Cape Town, GIMPA) of this programme for a wonderful vision and to ask them not to relent in their effort to ensure that the vision is sustained and enlarged to accommodate other countries who are not currently benefitting from the programme particularly the Francophone countries. I also wish to appreciate the faculty who, through their well thought out and researched lectures, were able to impact the knowledge and skills needed for us to make the change. I will not forget to thank the management of my institution, Federal medical Centre Umuahia who have supported me in our collective endeavor to make this change initiative possible.