Medical directors demand stronger infection control in hospitals

The Guild of Medical Directors has called for stronger infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities after an assessment of 415 facilities in Lagos found that 48.8 per cent had inadequate infection prevention and control systems.

The Guild warned that weak infection prevention could contribute to healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance and the spread of infectious diseases, urging medical directors to make IPC a core part of healthcare delivery.

 The call was made at the GMD Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting held on Friday at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, where healthcare professionals examined infection prevention, disease surveillance and preparedness for emerging and re-emerging diseases.

 While speaking on “Infection Prevention and Control: The Role of Healthcare Services,” Dr Olayemi Daudu said infection prevention should be treated as a standard of care driven by healthcare leadership rather than the responsibility of a single department.

 “Infection prevention is not a department or a department of activity, but a standard of care that is driven by governance, and we as directors are charged with that responsibility,” Daudu said.

 She disclosed that the assessment of 415 healthcare facilities in Lagos, using the World Health Organisation Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Framework, found that 48.8 per cent had inadequate IPC systems.

 Daudu noted that private facilities performed better than public facilities in the assessment, but none of those assessed reached the advanced level.

 She explained that effective infection prevention could reduce avoidable infections, antibiotic use, hospital stays and related costs, as healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance continued to put pressure on health systems.

 “The hospital without an infection prevention and control system becomes an amplifier,” she warned.

 To address the gaps, Daudu proposed a 90-day IPC compact for GMD member hospitals, including facility assessments, regular audits, stronger laboratory links, improved hand hygiene, surgical-site infection surveillance, facility antibiograms and outbreak-readiness measures such as triage and designated isolation areas.

 She also called for closer collaboration among healthcare facilities, laboratories and public health agencies.

 “Infection prevention is not a cost centre. It’s a licence to operate,” Daudu stressed.

 Speaking on “Emergency Preparedness for Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases,” Dr Adefolarin Opawoye said healthcare facilities, particularly private hospitals that are often the first point of contact for patients, must be able to recognise suspected infectious diseases early and respond promptly.

 He identified Ebola, mpox, COVID-19, cholera, diphtheria, Lassa fever and antimicrobial resistance among the threats requiring sustained attention.

 “The next case of an emerging disease must be identified in a private facility. The facility must be trained, ready and able to respond quickly. It must be able to isolate a suspected case,” Opawoye warned.

 He said facilities needed effective triage, designated isolation areas, surveillance systems, appropriate protective equipment and clear links with Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers.

 Opawoye also called for continuous training for healthcare workers and appropriate vaccination where indicated, while urging facilities to conduct emergency drills and maintain clear procedures for notification and referral.

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 “Usually, we have four things that we do: Screen. Isolate. Notify. Transfer,” he explained.

 He added that facilities should not wait for laboratory confirmation before taking appropriate precautions where there is strong clinical suspicion of a dangerous infectious disease.

 Responding to questions, Opawoye explained that the WHO IPCAF tool provides healthcare facilities with a structured self-assessment covering eight areas of infection prevention and control, helping them identify gaps and strengthen their systems.

 He said vaccination or booster measures for healthcare workers and vulnerable groups should depend on the disease, level of risk and findings from surveillance during suspected cases or outbreaks.

 Earlier, the Chairman, GMD Lagos Chapter, Dr Omoniyi Fagbemi, said the need to strengthen healthcare standards was also behind the Guild’s decision to require members to enrol in a quality improvement programme, with Care Level Three expected to become the minimum standard after a period of grace.

 He stressed that healthcare providers must be able to protect patients, staff and facilities while responding to emerging and re-emerging diseases.

 “Our theme today is particularly important because we continue to face emerging and re-emerging diseases. We have witnessed serious outbreaks in different parts of the world, including Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Fagbemi said.

 He recalled Nigeria’s 2014 Ebola experience and the role played by Dr Ameyo Adadevoh and other healthcare workers at First Consultant Hospital in responding to the outbreak.

 Fagbemi also stressed the need for healthcare businesses to develop systems that support sustainable growth.

 “Growth is not enough; it must scale,” he maintained.

 Speaking on “Systems, Strategy and Leadership for a Healthcare Enterprise Built to Last,” Dr Ayobami Kuyoro urged healthcare organisations to reduce their dependence on individual medical directors and build systems capable of functioning effectively without them.

 She said sustainable healthcare organisations require strong leadership, succession planning, institutional knowledge, financial discipline, effective technology and data-driven decision-making.

 “The strongest leaders do not create dependants; they create capacity,” Kuyoro noted.

 She cautioned against using technology to compensate for weak processes.

 “The digital version of a broken system is still a broken system,” she stressed.

 Kuyoro also urged medical directors approaching retirement to prepare the next generation of leaders and ensure that their organisations remain viable after they leave.

 “The question is: what can the organisation do without you?” she asked.