Abstract
Although an emerging speciality in Africa, family medicine contributes significantly to African health systems. Leadership from family physicians can enable the delivery of high-quality primary health care that is accessible, comprehensive, coordinated, continuous and person-centred. This short report chronicles how family physicians from a university teaching hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria, adopted a health post located in a home for persons with mild physical and mental disabilities and changed it into a hub of comprehensive, holistic and person-centred care for residents and staff of the home, as well as individuals and families in the neighbouring communities and its environs. The Department of Family Medicine of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, with the aid of a benefactor, reorganised a modest health facility to include the services of family medicine senior registrars (undergoing training-related rotations) with supervision by consultant family physicians. Family physicians led the primary health care team that provided both facility-based care and community outreach services. This report demonstrates how family physicians can improve the quality of primary health care and outcomes such as health equity in the community served.
Highlights
The speciality of family medicine is relatively new on the African continent
There are more family physicians available in practice than there were some 20 years ago, the speciality is still carving out a niche for itself
In 2010, a stakeholders’ meeting culminated in a multilateral agreement between the Board of Management of Oluyole Cheshire Home (OCH), Oyo State Ministry of Health and University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, to introduce the services of public health nurses and family physicians who are skilled in the principles and practice of holistic, person-centred/family-centred care at AMMC
Summary
In the African context, the family physician is a clinical leader and consultant in the primary health care team, ensuring primary, longitudinal, comprehensive, holistic and personalised care to individuals, families and communities.[1,2,3] The speciality of family medicine is relatively new on the African continent. The AMMC debuted in 2008 as a free-of-charge primary care service for residents of OCH with health personnel provided by the Oyo State government.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
