The Anambra State Government has directed all health workers in public health facilities across the state to wear clear and identifiable name tags while attending to patients.
The Commissioner for Health, Afam Obidike, gave the directive during a press briefing held to commemorate this year’s World Hypertension Day.
Obidike said the measure was aimed at strengthening accountability, professionalism and patient safety within the state’s healthcare system.
According to him, patients have the right to know the identities of the health personnel attending to them, noting that transparency would help build trust and confidence between health workers and members of the public.
He stated that the directive applies to all categories of health workers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and support staff across primary, secondary and tertiary health institutions in the state.
“The era where patients are attended to by anonymous personnel must give way to full identification and accountability. Every patient has the right to know the health worker providing care to them,” the commissioner said.
Obidike added that the policy would help reduce impersonation, improve discipline among health personnel and ensure compliance with professional standards in healthcare delivery.
He warned that heads of health facilities would be held responsible for enforcing compliance in their respective institutions.
The commissioner further disclosed that monitoring teams would soon be deployed to health facilities across the state to ensure strict adherence to the directive.
Speaking on this year’s World Hypertension Day, Obidike urged residents to embrace regular blood pressure checks, stressing that early detection remains critical in preventing complications associated with hypertension.
He encouraged members of the public to utilise blood pressure screening services available at primary healthcare centres and government-owned health facilities across the state.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Obiageli Uchebo, underscored the importance of the theme of this year’s commemoration, “Know Your Numbers.”
She urged health workers to promote regular medical check-ups and healthy lifestyles among residents, noting that awareness and routine screening are essential in reducing the burden of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases.
Among those present at the briefing were the Director of Public Health, Afam Aneme, the Director of Administration, Ekene Ilozumba, and other officials of the ministry.
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