The Health Committee and executives of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have commenced moves to improve the health and wellbeing of members through a proposed partnership with NIKZAR Hospital.
The initiative was unveiled during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the chapel to the management of the hospital, where both parties discussed possible areas of collaboration in healthcare delivery and medical outreach programmes for journalists.
Speaking during the meeting, the Human Resources Manager of NIKZAR Hospital, Mr. Bolarinwa Joseph, highlighted key areas of the proposed partnership, including the structure for collaboration, possible locations and schedules for outreach programmes, as well as the financial and manpower implications involved.
According to him, the partnership would mainly focus on medical outreach initiatives aimed at supporting journalists, noting that such programmes require considerable resources and may not be organised regularly.
He urged the leadership of the Correspondents’ Chapel, led by its Chairman, Yinka Adeniran, to clearly define how the relationship would benefit both organisations.
Mr. Bolarinwa explained that although healthcare institutions are profit-driven, medical outreach activities remain part of their corporate social responsibility, adding, “The essence of outreach is giving back to the community, especially through services rendered without the primary aim of maximising profit,” he said
He also proposed the possibility of members of the Correspondents’ Chapel adopting the hospital under a Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) arrangement, describing it as a mutually beneficial initiative.
Also speaking, one of the directors of the hospital, Engineer Tosin Ajisefinni, sought to know the level of awareness and acceptance of HMO schemes among journalists to ensure sustainability of the proposed partnership.
Responding, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Yinka Adeniran, said there was currently no unified HMO arrangement for members of the NUJ, although some journalists might individually enjoy healthcare plans through their organisations.
Corroborating the chairman’s position, Mr. Bolarinwa noted that proximity often plays a significant role in the choice of HMO providers.
Adeniran further stated that while NIKZAR Hospital would oversee the medical outreach component of the partnership, journalists would provide suitable venues and locations for such programmes.
He also appealed to the management of the hospital to participate in the chapel’s forthcoming Press Week, tentatively scheduled to hold between August and September this year, with a possibility of extending to December.
The chapel chairman equally requested the hospital to organise an initial medical outreach programme ahead of the Press Week as a way of strengthening the partnership.
Adeniran stressed the importance of collaboration between the media and healthcare institutions, noting that corporate social responsibility initiatives help in promoting and protecting the image of organisations.
“Partnership is just about relationship in which you will enjoy free publicity. Partnership may expire but friend will always stand by each other.
“The best way to amplify this publicity is through activities. Some of the CSR you do can be reported and your activities will be known and heard by all and sundry,” he said.
