It is a great honor and privilege to welcome all distinguished guests and Heads of Medical Facilities in the Nigeria Police Formations and Commands across the 36 States of the Federation and FCT to this Conference. This initiative is highly thoughtful of the Force Medical Officer and her team as it is coming at a time that we are poised at repositioning the Nigeria Police Force to meet the challenges of policing Nigeria in the 21st century.
This Conference is significant in several ways. Firstly, it serves as a forum to take stock in relation to the performance of the Nigeria Police Medical Services (NPMS) which was established in 1975 with a mandate of providing healthcare services to serving members and retirees of the Nigeria Police, their families, detainees in Police custody, and members of the public, especially during medical emergencies.
Secondly, it provides an avenue for Medical Officers in the Police to interact, learn, network with their peers in the Nigeria Police Medical Services and draw on their practice experiences towards enhancing their knowledge and clinical skills with a view to engendering patient-centered care. Beyond this, the Conference will assist us in identifying gaps within the operations of the Medical Services and aid us in emplacing actionable strategies to strengthen the capacity of the Section for quality healthcare delivery in line with global best practices.
Policing is a physically, mentally and psychologically demanding career. The job-related stress and constant exposure to traumatic incidents in the line of our highly-risky duties can impact negatively on the mental and overall health of Police personnel. The Nigeria Police Medical Services must, therefore, consistently strengthen its institutional and personnel capacity to respond in the most professional manner to this occupational reality in order to ensure that Police personnel are fit at all times for optimal performance of their statutory duties.
It is in cognizance of this that 'Advancing the Quality of Health Care and National Health Insurance Scheme Coverage in the Nigeria Police Force' which is the theme of this Conference is considered apt. It is my expectation that the outcome of this Conference will assist the Police leadership in addressing the negative impact of job-related stress on the mental health of Police personnel which often occasion unprofessional conducts and widen the gap between us and the citizens in a manner that affect the attainment of our mandate.
Let me, at this juncture, commend AIG (Dr) Modupe Obembe, the Force Medical Officer for her initiative which informed the organization of this Conference. I also commend the Medical Officers across all our facilities for their professionalism and commitment to the medical practice. It is to be emphasized that the Nigeria Police Medical Services represent a critical component of my vision to take the Nigeria Police to the next level and I trust that you shall continue to support my aspiration in this regard.
On my part, we shall continue to support you and ensure that the challenges mitigating against your commitment to quality medical service delivery which were highlighted by the Force Medical Officer in her speech shall be addressed. In so doing, particular attention shall be placed on your career and welfare concerns.
It is against this background that I feel highly delighted to declare this Conference open. I am expectant that at the end of the Conference, there will be a communique to facilitate actions on anticipated recommendations.
I thank you all for your attention and wish you fruitful deliberations.