As we wind up the 3rd quarter of year 2022, which marks when most of the state and national NMA bodies are handing over power and commencing a new tenure; the Medical Mirror (MM) team reached out to the NMA Lagos Secretary of the 2020 – 2022 tenure (Dr. Ime Okon), who happens to be
As we wind up the 3rd quarter of year 2022, which marks when most of the state and national NMA bodies are handing over power and commencing a new tenure; the Medical Mirror (MM) team reached out to the NMA Lagos Secretary of the 2020 – 2022 tenure (Dr. Ime Okon), who happens to be the First Female Secretary in the history of NMA Lagos. In this interview, she share her views on her journey, participation in politics and gave insight into the various roles of NMA, at state and national levels.
Interview with Dr. Ime Okon, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Lagos Secretary 2020 – 2022 (First Female Secretary, NMA Lagos).
MM: Thank you for having us Ma!
Dr. Ime Okon: Thank you for coming over for this interview, well done team.
MM: As the first female Secretary of NMA Lagos since Inception in 1960, what was the journey like and what would you say encouraged you and gave you an edge to occupy this position today? And how has it been like so far?
Dr. Ime Okon: It feels good really, when you work hard towards something and at the end of the day, you’re able to get it. There’s that feeling of self-actualization. However, in all things, I firstly give all glory to God Almighty, because great things He has done and there’s nothing we can do without Him, this is my belief in life and it has always worked for me. Also, whenever I perceive an idea or have a dream, I take it first to God in prayer – to seek His face and will – before I begin to work towards it.
So for me, it was a question of, “God, do you want me to be the Secretary of NMA Lagos at this time? Will it bring goodwill and promote better friendships?” Also, as a Rotarian, I always strive to go by the 4-way test of what we think, say or do viz: Is it the truth? Will it be fair to all concerned? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Will it promote goodwill and friendship? Furthermore, I see myself as a “change agent”, so I ask myself will this move create the desirable impact? These were my primary interests, and my answers were YES to all the questions! I also had to protect my personal interest, so I would have a “balance”. So I examined the following: how will it affect me as a person, encroach into my personal time, energy and resources, my career progression, and my home? After doing all the due diligence, once again I handed it over to God, to “take the wheel”. My prayer point now became, “Father let me win, if it’s not going to affect these other aspects of my life negatively”.
There were obstacles expectedly, there were hurdles to be crossed (it was a very keenly contested election, 3 of us were in the contest for the post of secretary, I being the only female), so by the time I won the elections with clear margins, it was very evident that God approved of it and I went ahead.
My previous roles had sort of trained me for this position; at my place of work, my other associations, my affiliates – specifically, Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), the Medical Guild and Association of Public Health Physicians. I could best be described as one who loves seeing the right and fair things done always, and I could get very restless if I find myself in a place where things are not being done properly, until it was fixed. So, it’s always as if “I find work for myself” and it has always made me to be placed in roles where I can be the “fix-it” person. From being a Doctors’ welfare coordinator, I got nominated to attend Doctors’ conferences, from there I joined in planning subsequent programs, then executive roles started coming. I have been a Publicity Secretary, Young Doctors’ Coordinator at State, National and International levels (Director of Publicity), a treasurer, a National Auditor for the different organizations mentioned above. I was State Outreaches coordinator for about a decade, before being appointed to do same at National level for the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, a role which earned me an outstanding service award by the National President in 2019.
I have been a member of State Executive Council of the Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State since 2009 and the National Executive Council since 2016 (NMA National Assistant Secretary General (2016-2018), Chairman Protocol Committee (2018-2020), and now as Secretary, I am a Statutory, voting member of NMA NEC (2020-2022). So, it’s been like a build-up to get to this stage, it wasn’t a one-day work.
On how it has been so far, well – so far, so good – God has been faithful! I have had the cooperation of men and benevolence of God. To have been able to make the modest achievements so far and this has justified the confidence reposed on me, being trusted with the role which hitherto (over 60 years) had been solely occupied by men. We’ve been able to make a difference and valuable impact, all by God’s grace and to His glory alone.
So much so, on a lighter note, at one of our programs, one of our past presidents and a renowned Professor, said the transformation and innovations brought into the NMA Lagos secretariat are so evident and commendable that he would want to suggest the position be reserved exclusively for females (capable and well qualified females of course). Such comments gladdens my heart – that for the first time a female is occupying the place and they are not disappointed. They wouldn’t even mind for more women (that are capable) to come into that position, that is very fulfilling. To have been able to make a lasting impact and glaring difference that people appreciate that, which makes it nice and all the sacrifice well worth it. Again, I thank the Almighty God, my supportive husband, family, friends and associates, my critics too, they made for introspection and positive changes.
MM: That was a journey! However, in our present time, even in 2022, with the lots of “gender equity and equality”, “break the bias”, what would you say is still responsible for the low participation of women in medical politics and politics as a whole in Nigeria? And can it be improved upon, for more participation?
Dr. Ime Okon: Well, let me start by saying that politics at any level is not for the lily-livered. From my experience, you’ve got to be bold and “stout-hearted” because there are challenges and it is never a smooth sail, I tell you. You will be challenged physically, psychologically, financially, spiritually, to say the least. There will be downtimes, when you will have to pick yourself up again. You’ve got to be your own best fan, because at some point you might look back and nobody is hailing you; you have to hail yourself and keep moving.
Visibly, there’s still that inequity, there’s still that inequality. Breaking the bias is real, that bias is there and very palpable. Even when you see women that are capable and you know they can handle some positions, there’s still that wall built around them, there’s still that glass ceiling that you must shatter to get there. Women more often than not, have to work ten times harder than their male counterparts – if not more – to get to an exact same position.
There are some unnecessary “bottlenecks” sometimes posed in the way as women seek advancement in different spheres. Most times, I see it as deliberate attempts to cause a setback, but for me, if it means “crashing the gate” or “being the gate crasher”, I’m going to crash that gate, so that we will get there and make that difference. It takes a lot of courage. Women have to be courageous, and never give up no matter the bias or challenges that we are faced with. Keep pushing, if not, by allowing discouragement, we are not going to be able to get what we want, in order to make the desirable impact the world yearns for.
As females, we have sub-optimal representation in medical politics and general politics in Nigeria. During the 2020-2022 dispensation, in the whole thirty-six states and FCT, we only had one female NMA state Chairman, and two secretaries – myself for NMA Lagos and a colleague in NMA Kaduna. This shows that we still have a long way to go and even in mainstream politics, which is a bigger ocean to swim. You can imagine what we need to face, and the amount of work ahead of us. This is our reality; we must face it and face it headstrong.
Therefore, more women should rise up and ensure we work hand in hand to break the bias. It is never brought to anyone on a platter of gold, nor will it be brought to us in our kitchens or sitting rooms or homes. We have to go all out there; face the challenges, break the bias and get what we want done. I personally don’t like positions that come without a challenge, victory is sweeter after a contest.
MM: Now to the Association – NMA… Most of us just hear of NMA once in a while and don’t really know what they are about or actually do for us – medical doctors. So, can you please enlighten us on functions of the association generally on the medical profession in Nigeria? And specifically, how the association has positively impacted and protected the young medical professionals, who are the future of the medical profession in the country?
Dr. Ime Okon: In attempt to answer that question, I’d like to say that you’re correct to an extent, because you can only know as much as you desire to know about anything at all – it’s all about interest. Primarily as doctors, we are members of the Nigerian Medical Association as soon as you are inducted into the medical profession. You become a member of the Nigerian Medical Association once you’ve done your swearing-in by MDCN, at the point where you have finished your exams and you are certified a graduate, most people do not know this.
After leaving school, the key interest is to get a placement for house job, go for your youth service, and all that. No one is interested in “associations”, unless you throw it in their faces, e.g. through our “catch them young” program, especially in NMA, Lagos State branch. We attended at least three medical inductions where our representatives were given the opportunity to speak to the young graduands on “what NMA is about” and “what we can achieve together”. In this same dispensation, we had the Young Doctors’ Mentorship Conference, where we discussed the various ways you can practice medicine; whether in public service, private practice, even HMOs, as much as you desire or have a flair to. This is because we have realized that there are some people that will say – woe betide them if they work in public institutions, preferring to work in the private sector. While some would say they’d rather work in public institution – where their pension is guaranteed, with gratuity and they have job security, it is not “hire-and-fire” system. So, we had an opportunity to have people well established in these roles, come and speak to young doctors; house officers, young medical officers, corper doctors, doctors (that have practiced less than five years that are still trying to build their career).
There are committees in NMA on medical induction, for young doctors, House officers etc, and these are avenues through which issues with respect to these categories of doctors can be channelled to NMA and addressed.
Anytime a case involving a young doctor (or doctors) is brought to NMA, these committees are available to look into them, and where applicable, as much as possible, act in the interest of the profession and welfare of the medical doctor. If there is a need to escalate beyond NMA, that is done also. Like any other association, the welfare of the members (medical doctors) is very important and the first to our Nigerian Medical Association. In fact, it is the primary aim of setting up associations. So definitely, we will always have the back of our young colleagues who are “our future”. These are some of the things that the Nigerian Medical Association is doing and has done.
We all will get old, and the young ones will take over, not forgetting that we are taking about health here – nobody wants to joke with that. So, as we grow older, we have to take care of the ones that are coming after us because “whatever you impact, is what you’ll get”.
MM: Also, some believe that NMA mostly come alive and visible to the public during their elections, we don’t even know or hear the voices of the elected ones during their tenure. What other activities are being done actively by the association and to improve social media presence?
Dr. Ime Okon: Concerning this, I can say with all sense of humility but responsibility that, during my tenure as the Secretary of NMA in Lagos, our State Team went to many places. Like I mentioned, we had the Young Doctors’ Mentorship program, we have been holding annual physicians’ week (which is meant for all doctors), we had the Annual General Meetings/Conferences, we had the anti-quackery summit, we had the leadership forum, and a whole lot of programs. Hardly, would any quarter pass and we don’t have one activity or the other to impact the Doctors positively, also our society at large, and we have records for them. In fact, we have a monthly secretariat report which we circulate all over our social media platforms to keep our members abreast of all activities going on in the association.
MM: Overtime, we’ve seen a lot of medical quackery, especially by non-medical doctors running hospitals all over the country. Whose job is it to ensure it stops? And as an association of medical doctors, what is being done to reduce the harm being caused by these quacks posing as medical doctor?
Dr. Ime Okon: On whose job it is to stop medical quackery, we have that as part of the role of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). In Lagos however, we have the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), in addition to the role of MDCN.
As part of NMA Lagos efforts towards this issue, in May 2022, we had the maiden edition of the “Anti-quackery Summit”. It was a very well organized and attended program involving many allied professional bodies and associations – pharmacists, radiographers, medical lab scientists, community health extension workers, trado-medical practitioners (traditional-medicine practice) board and so on – to discuss at a round table; what the problem exactly is? Why are people going beyond their calls and job descriptions? And how we can mitigate it.
There are quacks everywhere and the citizens are the ones suffering. Showing of a practicing certificate at point of care would have been a way out, but when one is ill or at the point of emergency is not when you’d be asking for that. So, for now, we have HEFAMAA and the MDCN to deal this quackery problem. It is a nationwide problem but because of the population of Lagos, it is actually more pronounced in Lagos.
MM: How is NMA as an organization speaking up and acting on behalf of medical practitioners in the health sector, in terms of our welfare, participation in politics and other federal related issues? And any plans for special groups, like doctors living with sickle cell, doctors living with disabilities and the peculiar house officers and even residents?
Dr. Ime Okon: As an organisation – or any association at that – the very first or primary aim of setting it up is for the welfare of her members. To buttress this is why we have the position of a welfare officer, as a statutory elective office. The duties of this officer is totally dedicated to ensure the welfare of members. Particularly, when issues are brought to our attention, because – you know – we can’t know everything and this is more reason we have affiliates. We have ARD, MDCAN, Medical Guild, Private Practitioners, Medical Women, doctors in Basic Medical Sciences (i.e. they are lecturers but primarily have MB; BS or BDS), doctors working in the university’s health services and so on. We have them in these different categories, so that they can flag the particular needs in their groups, because each group is peculiar. For example, a resident doctor working in LASUTH may be having a different challenge or welfare issue separate from the person working in LUTH. Hence, when issues are brought to our notice, we address them individually as they are reported, but it has to be brought to our notice first because we can’t be everywhere.
Concerning participation in politics, especially at the national level, we have a committee that is responsible for getting details of our members that are participating in politics, to see how best we can assist and make sure that their dreams come true. A good example was when I was NMA National Assistant Secretary General, our immediate boss then – now Honourable Tanko Sununu – was the Secretary General and was vying for the position of House of Representatives in his constituency. I remember how we rallied round him, there was a WhatsApp platform set up to that effect, people contributed funds because then, we didn’t have a common purse dedicated to assisting anyone who wanted to go for a position. The support from the association was quite impressive and today, we’re very proud of him. He has even gone ahead to win a ticket for second term in the House of Representatives. As a first time House of Rep. member, he did very well that they made him chair of a committee. I say this because I know of some people that they have been in the House of Rep. for so long and have not been able to chair or even deputise a committee, so that is the extent to which the association could go to support her own.
The plans for special groups like doctors living with sickle cell, disabilities and all that, is still under the welfare plan. As mentioned earlier, I’ll reiterate again, when these are brought to our attention – we try our best to address them. However, for these groups, there’s a plan to institutionalize an endowment fund to always have a pool of funds for their use. So we don’t have to go cap in hand, anytime a colleague has a health challenge. Likewise, in the past, we’ve had doctors who needed to go for transplants, either renal transplant or challenges with cancer, that we helped raised funds for. You know, doctors are not immune to these things, so when they are brought to our notice we try in our own way.
Now, what we are working towards is to have a welfare trust fund for doctors, as it might be difficult sustaining constant call for donations or crowdfunding each time we have such challenges amongst members. We need something that is more sustainable, hence we are working on that.
MM: This is nice to know. But, why are poor wages with no salary structures or benefits for young doctors specifically being tolerated? And we would like to know if there are laws or punishments in place against employers that violate the 40hours work/9am – 5pm law and don’t pay for overtime?
Dr. Ime Okon: To be candid, I do not quite understand what you specifically mean by “poor wages with no salary structure”. I am thinking, maybe you’re talking about private practice in particular, because I know in the public sector there is a structure. However, when it comes to the private practitioners, we have tried to work through their association severally. But the bottom-line fact remains that, we need to have at the back of our mind that different private practices have their individualized peculiarities. For instance, a doctor practicing in Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe, or the likes, may not be able to place on same levels the income that come from their practice with someone on Lagos Island, Victoria Island, Lekki and so on. They have their peculiarities, but all the same there is a minimum standard that is expected, and we do not expect anyone to go below that regardless.
Furthermore, during the Young Doctors’ Mentorship Conference we had, we discussed pay disparity as one of the sub-themes – pay disparity between the public and the private health sector. On that panel discussion, we had a doctor that had moved on from working in a private hospital. He discussed his challenges then and why he had to leave and go to the public sector. We had the representative of the association of private practitioners who talked about their challenges, their peculiarities and how they can work round these to make sure that the younger doctors do not suffer for it, so these are the things that are in the pipeline. Also, we are in continuous discussions with them, in as much as we know that it may be difficult to ‘Lord it over them” (for the want of a better word), since we are not the one helping them get the finances to run their facilities and some of them actually find it very difficult to get funding.
Likewise, there can be so many other things involved in running their establishments, that they might not be able to say all of it and the young doctor – who is just on the receiving end – just thinks “I am working and I deserve to be paid this amount”. Sometimes, we turn the table around and imagine that we’re the ones on the other end, and have to fuel or run the facility despite the kind of environment we live in and the economic situation in the country… with the salaries of everybody on your neck; you have to pay the person that is supplying you drugs and medical equipment, you have rent to pay and other things. So, in life you always learn to balance things, but as much as possible there’s a minimum standard that is always expected. Therefore, we are talking. It’s definitely a continuous process and we will primarily always have the welfare of our members in mind – as a young doctor is a member of NMA, so also is the private practitioner who is the employer, a member of NMA.
MM: Being in the government and policy making space, what government policies are being lobbied towards to create better working environment for medical doctors or bills being passed to put a minimum on what doctors should earn to avoid being taken advantage of, especially in the private medical sector? Or How is NMA helping doctors to create standard prices of locum and cover jobs and avoid labour exploitation among doctors?
Dr. Ime Okon: Talking about policies, we are currently in the middle of the review of Lagos state health sector reform law. The policies guiding medical practice in private and public sectors – such as the health sector reform law – was established in 2006 and we are just reviewing it in 2022. For this, we are in discussion with the government – and I must say that we have a very responsive government, they have been quite magnanimous involving all medical and allied associations to a round table, so that we get it right from the scratch. This is because when you involve all stakeholders in the policies reviewing and reforms, you are rest assured that when the law is fixed, there would be no need to start fighting one part of the law or the other that one is uncomfortable with. Therefore, inviting everyone from inception of the review process is a very welcome development and we will try our best – with God guidance – to make sure these policies are in the best interest of everyone and the health sector.
MM: Likewise, what moves are being made by the association and senior doctors to encourage the generation of practitioners behind them and improve their working conditions towards reducing the number of Doctors massively leaving the country, in general?
Dr. Ime Okon: The brain drain is real and it is affecting us big time; it is very sad for us to be able to mention or acknowledge at this point that it is very difficult. Sometimes, when you are even telling a younger colleague “don’t go”, you are asking yourself, “what do I have in place for this bright and upcoming mind?”, you look at what is on ground and really, nothing much is there.
The challenges are real and another question is, “when we all leave, what will happen to the people that are left behind?” Someone asked me recently, “when all the bright brains travel outside the country, what will happen to our mothers, fathers, grand-parents, uncles, aunties…?” Who is going to be providing the health care services they need? These are the realities that are facing us, but then, given the prevailing circumstances, we are trying to work around what we have to make sure we get the best for all doctors.
MM: In view of the recent occurrence across the country, are there any current modifications being made to safety guidelines to avoid more deaths of doctors from Lassa fever? And what is the current situation on the increase in Hazard allowance?
Dr. Ime Okon: On the review of the hazard allowance, we are not there yet but at least we have moved the proposal we have on ground from the ridiculous five-thousand-naira (N5,000) flat rate. It was increased for all health workers irrespective of whether you are a doctor, nurse or pharmacist. But of course, NMA is still not comfortable with what we have currently as the reviewed hazard allowance, so we are still working on it to make sure it is improved on.
MM: Again, we have been hearing about the “NMA building” for years now and even being paying a lot yearly for it. We would like to know if there is a set time for the completion of the building?
Dr. Ime Okon: To check the typeset for NMA building, I am not quite sure I have the information of the quotations. However, let me just mention that, what we all are paying as doctors – forty thousand or twenty thousand depending on your year of graduation – can’t build that house or get us the type of building we deserve. We are still looking for funds from everywhere. So, in as much as we are pinching ourselves to sacrifice that “twenty thousand” or “forty thousand” naira, it is a one-off payment, it still cannot take us to where we are going, we still have to work harder to achieve our goal.
MM: What is the stand of NMA on accountability, as we rarely see what all the yearly or biannually dues of medical doctors being paid to the association are used for? This is in comparison with other national associations, like that of the lawyers and accountants in Nigeria, where every income and expenditure are made visible.
Dr. Ime Okon: On accountability, permit me to discuss this at the level of NMA Lagos first. In this 2020/2022 tenure, we had quarterly accountability – every three months, we have a financial report where we discuss our income and expenditure. We have consistently and carefully done this over time, and at every AGM, we have an externally audited report. We record and report for every dime that comes into the association. Like I said earlier, we also have our monthly secretariat report – that is not a financial report – but it makes members know what the association is doing on our behalf every month. So, by the time we are giving a financial report, everyone has an idea and understand how those financial implications were incurred, because for every one of those activities – money speaks. This is what we do at the Lagos level, which we are very proud of, because we know that money is difficult to come by for everybody. So, once you are able to get the money from people paying the association dues, you need to justify the way you are spending it and that is why we ensure that the reports are as transparent and accountable as possible.
MM: Late in 2021, MDCN decided to centralize housemanship with a resulting effect of almost all house officers in Nigeria being owed salary, what role did NMA play to intervene in this situation?
Dr. Ime Okon: On MDCN decision for house officers and the resultant effect of them been owed salary, to the best of my knowledge, seems like that has been sorted out to a reasonable extent of bringing decentralization. Especially, when there were reports of people getting unfair distribution of house officers.
Usually, because we have different ideas and people coming with different policies, when something new is started, the initial teething problems are not unexpected. However, it seems we have gone beyond that, because the house officers had gotten those their arrears and NMA – of course – had a distinct and pivotal role in achieving that feat.
For your information, it’s worthy of note that the Registrar of MDCN, post graduate medical college and all the other regulatory bodies are integral/statutory members of the national executive council, of which I am a member also by the virtue of been the secretary of Lagos executive council. At every national executive council meeting, they are always there to give reports and when there was this bottle neck of accumulated arrears payment, the registrar was there to discuss what happened, solutions were proffered and it was addressed. Specifically, I very well remember this House Officers’ arrears was addressed at the AGM which held in Jos, in April/May 2021 and got sorted out eventually.
Also, I’ll like to mention that during the period house officers had issues, many senior colleagues came together to contribute soft funds to alleviate the burden at that time. The MDs came around and contributed just to ease the effect of the arrears that has been owed by the MDCN to the house officers. They also tried by contributing palliatives across the nation to assist. So, you never walk alone – young doctor, older doctor – as we say in union parlance “An injury to one, is injury to All”.
MM: Again, sometime during the 2021 elections, why was there considerably more violence reported as compared to former elections? For instance, in a particular zone they were thugs stealing ballot papers and breaking bottles. (https://www.thecable.ng/video-ballot-boxes-destroyed-as-nma-election-in-enugu-turns-violent/amp)
It was in August 2020 actually. That NMA elections in Enugu was a show of shame and it’s not something to be proud of. I don’t know what really went wrong because we are professionals and belong to a noble profession, but it was adequately addressed by a national disciplinary council set up by NMA. Some of the people involved were made to face some penalty for their actions, because ordinarily that kind of behaviour should never happen or be found in an association as reputable and noble such as ours.
MM: Finally, on the association, we’d like to know, what NMA exactly stands for? This is because, in the height of lockdown, NMA insisted on collecting building levy, even though everyone was struggling, including medical doctors. Keeping in view that other associations like NBA, gave cash gifts to young lawyers below 5years call to bar to ease the lockdown period.
Dr. Ime Okon: I want to re-iterate again and say, “NMA stands for the welfare of the average Nigerian doctor”. Being a doctor, irrespective of where you belong; private, public, old, young, resident, general practitioner, consultant, professor… NMA is up for the welfare, and at no point in time should it be mistaken that NMA doesn’t care about her doctors. During the lockdown, there was a lot of things going on, but I would not agree with the statement that it was insisted that they will collect the building levy. It was just one of the things going on concurrently, and because it was tied to renewal of practicing license, without which we cannot practice – our source of livelihood. Hence, it pops up anytime one wants to renew license, staring us in the face and most times, if a young doctor doesn’t have a renewed license, he or she might not be able to move on to applying for jobs, it is always a pre-requisite. This is my personal opinion on why it looked like NMA was insisting, because with every attempt to renew your license, it pops up and makes it look like NMA came out during the lockdown asking for building levy instead of giving palliatives. The Nigerian Medical Association can never be insensitive to the plight of her members.
MM: Back to you Ma, any final words for female medical practitioner on balancing the profession, life, family, and other extracurricular activities successfully.
Sincerely, it is not easy trying to strike the balance between professional life, family and other extra circular activities. When I look at myself – a public health practitioner, head of department, Rotarian with a lot of extra circular activities from belonging to different groups in the church and having other things I actively do in other affiliate associations (i.e. the medical guild, association of public health physicians and medical women’s association), asides being the secretary of the largest zone of the Nigeria Medical Association – I am amazed. I guess it’s about taking it “one day at a time”.
These roles actually have given me a platform to express my otherwise hidden capabilities and strengths. I am able to give the best of myself as an organizer, a welfarist, I thrive better when I see people doing well. Especially, for those people that always need that push, because sometimes they are not just able to come forth and speak for themselves. So, someone have to do that on their behalf and represent them, which is what I do. It is said that when you want happiness, give it first.
And of course, to the glory of God, I am a family woman with 3 adolescents – my last born is in JSS 3 – and my husband has always been there, so supportive. I tell people, “anything you want to do, run it by your family first”. So if one gets there; fine and good, they will support you in anyway. Like in those times you will not be around and you would need to travel for one week or more, or keep sleepless nights in order to meet some deadlines, or that you might not be able to make their fresh breakfast the way they would have preferred it and all that… they are understanding and this understanding sees you through.
You also need to pray. Whatever you believe in, whatever faith you have, you need to hold on tight to that, because those are the things that will get you going during the dark moments – when they come. Participating in all these multiple activities takes a whole lot from you financially, spiritually, mentally and physically, but getting support from your base, your primary constituency can be relieving. Then don’t expect to be perfect in everything. Your husband will be understanding when you are unable to prepare fresh food atimes because you have minutes to write or other things to do. You need to get help; you need assistance at home. I have had a driver for more than ten years now, to assist me navigate the hurdles of moving around in Lagos with its attendant traffic jams etc, school runs, dispatch some letters etc.
People call it “living large”, saying I am “madam, oga madam” with luxury, but it is not luxury. For me, it is an easy way out. When I am in a traffic for two hours, I would have finished writing my minutes, I have a lot of phone calls to do and other things, those things help me balance. I don’t mind spending part of my salary to ease off some of these responsibilities I have. So, you need all and a lot of support from people that believe in you.
Finally, to be able to achieve your goals, you need to make good relationships at home and at work. So that whenever you need their assistance or the understanding of your boss or subordinate, you can always get it and that way, you will be able to strike a balance. You can’t strike a balance by having people frown at you, when they are all smiles with you, they will support you all the way and that balances you.
About Dr. Ime Okon:
Dr. (Mrs) Ime Okon is a medical doctor with a little over 2 decades of experience practicing medicine in Nigeria. She is a public servant with Lagos State, currently HOD Community and Preventive Health, Chairman COVID-19 task force, General Hospital Ifako Ijaiye.
An astute Public Health Physician (with special interest in Infectious Diseases), with postgraduate degrees and diplomas in Public Health. Dr. Okon is an Epidemiologist (graduate of the Field Epid. program of Nigeria-NFELTP). Worked in Mainland Hospital (formerly Infectious Diseases Hospital) for 5 years (between 2011-2015), including the period of Ebola response. She played an active role in Active Case Finding in the Epid/Surveillance Pillar of the EOC Response for COVID 19 especially during the first wave of the pandemic.
Passionate about service, she has served (and still serving) in various capacities in many organizations, medical associations at local, national and international levels (Medical Women-MWAN, Public Health Association-APHPN, NIDS, NMA to mention a few). She happens to be the first female Secretary of NMA Lagos since Inception in 1960. As a dedicated Rotarian and Catholic, she is married with 3 lovely adolescents.
Published by the IMJC team — telling the medical stories that mainstream media miss, without bias, prejudice or favour.
