By John Odunayo
As its tradition, the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, has treated its members of staff to yet another fascinating end of the year celebrations to put the smile of the season on their faces.
Although the twin-event – Christmas Carol and the 2024 Meritorious Awards to 58 deserving staff – was low key this year, the members of staff had a nice time as they sang, danced and praised God for the successes, health and life in the outgoing year and trusting God for a more prosperous 2025.
Attendance at the event included the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ebenezar Adekunle Ajayi; the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr Olagoke Erinomo; Director of Administration, Mrs Foluso Adelegan; the Director of Finance; the Director of Nursing Services; and the Chaplain.
All smiles and in festive mood, the members of staff in attendance echoed and danced to the Christmas Carols and special numbers rendered by FETHI choristers.
The highpoint of the event was the cutting of the Christmas Cake led by the CMD and other top management members.
In his address, Prof. Ajayi, said that the yearly Christmas Carol Service, was to appreciate God for sparing the lives of the staff and celebrate achievements in the outgoing year, adding that the award ceremony was to recognize staff contributions in a bid to encourage the recipients and others to do more.
He lauded FETHI staff for activities in the course of the year and also hailed the choristers and all for making the occasion grand as he encouraged workers of the institution to continue to give their best.
The CMD gave the workers the cheering news that next year’s end of activities would be held in the new 850-capacity hall which would be delivered early next year.
“The hall is nearing completion. It’s an 850-capacity hall that will have all necessary conveniences. It will be among the legacies I will leave behind for you to enjoy,” Ajayi, whose second tenure as CMD will end next year, said.
He charged the workers to reflect – “What have I done in the course of the year? What have I done to improve quality of delivery in this hospital?”
He expressed gladness that FETHI had continued to have series of accomplishments in terms of giving succour to people and improvement in the quality of delivery as he encouraged staff to continue to give their best.
The CMD said that the medical facility would continue to prioritise staff welfare and provide incentives to spur staff to excellence in service delivery, adding that the priority attention to workers’ welfare and the yearly reward to diligent members of staff were steps in the direction.
He said that the awards, which were in two categories – long service and merit – were to recognize staff contributions in a bid to encourage the recipients and others to do more.
Ajayi said, “This hospital started about 27 years ago, there are people who started with the hospital and have been committed to offering quality service to the populace using the platform of the FETHI, both clinical and non-clinical members of staff. This year, we are recognizing 40 members of staff in this category”.
“Also, we are rewarding 18 members of staff in the individuals’ category for sterling qualities and performances. They are being rewarded for acts of brilliance, acts of courage and for having gone beyond the call of duty to ensure that our patients smile and so on and so forth.
“This is the seventh edition of the awards. It is important to recognize the contributions of people. That will in essence spur them to do more, and to encourage our members of staff to do more, to be more committed to the mission, vision and the core values of the hospital, we have to recognise their contributions.
The Director of Administration, FETHI, Mrs Foluso Adelegan, lauded the CMD for his sterling leadership qualities which she said had brought developments to the tertiary facility.
Adelegan, who rejoiced with the staff on the occasion of the festive season, urged them to continue to give their best, saying “This is our Jerusalem.
“We need to be diligent in whatever deliverables we have for the hospital. All of us need to work towards achieving the vision, mission and the core values of the hospital so that all our clients, our patients can be happy,” Adelegan said.
