The Anambra State Hospital Administrator, Dr. Frank Ifeanaeme, has directed Administrative Officers in government hospitals across the state to strengthen discipline, accountability and efficiency to improve healthcare service delivery.

Dr. Ifeanaeme gave the directive on Sept. 2 at a meeting with Heads of Administrative Offices from secondary health facilities across the state, where he urged them to drive positive change and uphold high administrative standards in their respective hospitals.

He directed the officers to maintain accurate records of lateness and absenteeism, stressing that effective monitoring would promote punctuality and ensure that patients receive timely attention.

The hospital administrator reminded staff that the civil service rules provide for disciplinary measures against workers who absent themselves from duty without prior approval. He also reiterated that 8:00 a.m. is the official resumption time for government workers, while doctors and nurses assigned to duty rosters must remain at their designated duty posts.

He further urged administrative officers to enforce proper dress codes, ensuring that all staff wear their official name tags while on duty to promote professionalism and accountability.

On hospital assets, Dr. Ifeanaeme directed facilities to maintain monthly inventories of equipment and departmental property to prevent loss, facilitate accountability and make it easier to identify cases of tampering.

He ordered that duty rosters be submitted to heads of administrative offices for proper monitoring and compliance.

Speaking at the meeting, the Head of Administrative Office, State Hospital Management Board, Mrs. Blessing Otiji, urged administrative officers to take their responsibilities seriously, particularly in maintaining accurate staff records.

She called for the timely updating and submission of nominal rolls, noting that records should reflect changes involving retired, deceased or transferred personnel.

Mrs. Otiji warned against extortion, describing the collection of money for performing official duties as unethical and punishable, cautioning that only qualified medical doctors are authorized to issue medical reports, stressing that unauthorized issuance of such documents is a criminal offence.

Also present were the Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Mrs. Uche Eze, and the Director of Medical Support Services, Mrs. Nneka Uzor.

Participants described the meeting as impactful, saying it provided practical guidance on addressing administrative challenges and improving efficiency across government health facilities.